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Could a face mask stop bird flu?

KARACHI: Respiratory protection through the use of face coverings is only one of the many strategies that will be needed to slow or halt a pandemic outbreak of influenza, and people should not engage in activities that would increase their risk of exposure to the flu just because they have a mask or respirator, says John C. Bailar, professor emeritus, University of Chicago, in a web report. The reuse of disposable medical masks during a flu pandemic is not recommended because there’s no simple, reliable way to decontaminate them, says a report from the US Institute of Medicine. Disposable masks are made of a mesh of fibres, which can trap harmful particles, which cannot be cleaned or disinfected without damaging the fibres or other components of the mask, according to a web report. The report further says that it is possible to reuse an N95 respirator by following a series of steps to protect it from contamination. PPI

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