Masks for Swine Flu

N95.

Google 'disposable mask' for all your pandemic needs.

link

The surgical mask you have pictured would be used to reduce the chance of an infected person spreading the virus. However, for a healthy person to keep from catching the virus, one would need to have a fit tested PAPR full face respirator with NIOSH particulate filter such P99 or P100. Fit testing insures a proper seal around the face piece, the positive pressure prevents stuff out during heavy physical exertion, and the P filter traps 99%+ of particulate.

Correct gear for healthy persons are described

Hi wire,

Hope you are fine.

It is a shame no technical details of the masks filtration qualities are not given on the Airware America? They need to filter Particulate under approximately 80/100 nm. The N95 lets through down to 300 nm size, so anything over that can just 'walk in'. Take care.

The spec are available from the filter manufacturer "3M"

Hello wire,

I appreciate the info on the Mask filters. thank you my friend.

Take care

Hi jconn,

Very good point! Take care

These should scare it away mask

Why would you sorry about it since it is a huge hoax any way. Just increase your immune system strength and forget all the hype. Remember your immune system starts in the gut so you will need to take good care of your intestinal tract. For professional information see Dr. Mercola,Dr.Douglass,Dr Al Sears. Dr. Whitaker etc.

The H1N1 virus (So called swine flu) is an Influenza virus. Influenza is a virus sometimes called a filterable virus. Ceramic filters are used to filter the influenza virus from mucus, body fluids, etc. I suspect that any 100% effective face filter does not exist for the influenza virus (any kind). At best, a face filter will stop bacterium such as Pneumonia that infect influenza victims and cause death/sickness as diseases of opportunity that occur as a result of reduced immune systems.

Hello jey,

As far as Masks go I like the ones 'rcapper' mentions.

BUT, This is a VIRUS and I know of no flat paper or cloth or plastic Masks with malleable nose-piece which stop a virus. The virus gets through the spaces left near the nose if it doesn't get through the mask anyway. Even a Mask that is supposed to stop virus' it must be smoothed down tight to the face and fit properly round the nose.

"The N95 Mask stops particulate down to 300 nanometers.

Trouble is the swine flue is approx.' 150 nm."

The Nanomask is effective for particle down to 27 nm, but it is quite big. It may stop some but not all flue virus. The word to look for is "almost".

See the bottom of this post for more details of Nanomask which is 99% sure to stop anything. But it will never stop all 100% !

Assuming you do not have the virus the Masks will stop and cough residue from being ejected, but that is about all.

The one kind od Mask which will stop a virus is a 'Gas-Mask' but, I cannot imagine many people going round wearing one of those!

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"As the swine flu outbreak deepens, panicked citizens of North America are donning face masks. In Mexico City's downtown square, the Zócalo, for example, the army handed out face masks, and customs officials on U.S. borders are wearing protective personal gear, such as gloves and masks. But do surgical masks offer effective protection against viruses?

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http://www.slate.com/id/2217045/Do Surgical Masks Stop Swine Flu?

"Do surgical masks stop swine flu"

"Probably not".

By Jon Cohen

In 2003, Jon Cohen wrote that the SARS virus, which is just 100 nanometers in size, can easily pass through such barriers.

And there's every reason to believe that swine flu, at 80 to 120 nanometers, can, too".

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Relative Bacteria and Virus sizes in two short detailed descriptions below.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_size_of_a_bacteria

"Bacteria range in size from 0.2-2 microns in width or diameter, and up to 1-10 microns in length for the nonspherical species. The largest known bacterium is Thiomargarita namibiensis, with spheroidal diameters from 100-750 microns. Spherical bacteria as small as 50-500 nm in diameter have been reported".

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Bacterial and viral nanostructure: N95 type masks can ward of organisms as small as 300 nanometer (one nanometer is equal to one-billionth of a meter). This is efficient for diseases spread by bacteria like tuberculosis. Viruses such as the bird flu ones are much smaller than 300 nanometers. Some of the most troublesome ones like the virus strain H5N1 are less than 150 nanometers in size. - Bacteriophage (MS) 220nm - Adenovirus 70nm - HIV / (AIDS) 80nm - Cytomegalovirus 100nm - Orthomyxovirus(flu) 120nm - Coronavirus (SARS) 80nm - 160nm

An N-95 rated mask, for example, is 95% efficient in removing particles with a median diameter of approximately 0.3 micron at a volume of 85 liters per minute.

http://www.flupharmacy.com/nanomask.html

A Nanomask is 99% efficient in filtering particulates as small as 27 nanometers.

Good luck to all! And, Just stay healthy. The worse place to be is at a Doctors or in a Hospital, so do not visit anyone with this flue!

Thanks Babybear for detailed information.

I am at Pune India where this swine flu has errupted to great extent for last 2-3 weeks. But I believe "immunity" is the key to be safe, and thus be fit and be safe.

I have not thought of using any mask and performing all routines as usual.

Hello gsuhas,

This is the address of the main Indian site for Swine Flu:

http://www.ecademy.com/node.php?id=132941

I have yet to finish going through my emails and notifications, so where the OP may have sent in details of where he lives, I have not come across it yet.

In the 'real world', I think the only thing to do is to wash your hands and get regular baths or showers, and eating healthier if possible wherever you live is the way to go. There will never be enough Mask that actually 'WORK' and stop particulates down to at least 80/100 nm. Normal flat face Masks are completely useless and even the so called best 'N95' lets particulate down to 300 nm, these 'gaps' will let Swine Flu through as they are only 150 nm.

To put things in perspective, these masks will help prevent most Bacterial born disease.

Take care my friend.

Here