Reply #10: I've heard that the kind being used does little good.

[mwb970]

Should you wear a mask?
(Charlotte Observer, May 1, 2009)

You've seen plenty of pictures on TV and in newspapers of people in Mexico wearing masks to protect themselves from catching swine flu.

But U.S. health officials say there's little evidence that masks protect healthy people from contracting viruses.

In fact, masks are more useful if worn by sick people – to prevent them from spreading the virus to healthy people.

Those who are advised to wear masks during a flu epidemic are health care workers and emergency responders who come in close contact with a lot of sick people. Other healthy people who might benefit by wearing masks are those who can't avoid going to crowded places.

But generally, “there's no evidence that wearing masks by well people in public prevents flu,” said N.C. health director Dr. Jeffrey Engel. “There is also a risk of doing it incorrectly and actually making matters worse.”