squatting dog
Remember when... thirty seemed so old.
- Location
- Arkansas, and also Florida
Maybe, maybe not. Apparently there are a lot of variables as per way back in 2009 when there was an article by the CBC concerning face masks. and the flu. Some clips;
A protective mask, the report says, can offer protection, but there's no evidence inexpensive SURGICAL (important... see below) masks can protect against flu virus particles small enough to be inhaled into the lower respiratory tract or the lungs. The report also finds that it's unclear how effective surgical masks are in blocking flu virus particles that are bigger and therefore likely to settle in the nose and throat of an exposed person.
Not all masks are created equally, either. Surgical masks ( the kind your dental hygienist might use while inflicting a cleaning on you )offer some help, but they won't filter out smaller particles and don't provide a good seal. (Please note, that is what you commonly see people wearing on tv).
If you're in the market for a mask, don't go to the hardware store and pick up one that you'd use while sanding drywall. Covering your mouth and nose with a bandanna won't do you much good either.
The best bet for protective masks are what are referred to as "N95 respirators," a commonly used term in Canada that refers to NIOSH-certified, disposable, particulate-filtering, half-facepiece respirators. Not all high-quality masks are labeled N95. Health Canada said masks should offer protection equivalent to N95 to be considered effective. Such masks should: Filter particles one micron in size or smaller.
Have a 95 per cent filter efficiency. Provide a tight facial seal (less than 10% leak).
CBC News Marketplace tested three types of N95 masks in the wake of the SARS outbreak in 2003. Each filtered out between 97 per cent and 99.7 per cent of all the virus-like particles. The report prepared for the Public Health Agency of Canada further concluded that: N95 respirators protect against the inhalation of nasopharyngeal, tracheobronchial and alveolar sized particles.
Health officials say masks can help, but unless the person wearing the mask can ensure a sealed fit, the mask will offer no significant protection. This can be more of a problem for children or men with beards.