Along these weeks of swine flu media frenzy, face masks have been strangely under reported. We got a good dosis ofphotographs of mexicans wearing face masks as we had done before with the asian SARS outbreak. What we still haven't heard from this outbreak is whether the masks have finally helped anyone.

From the SARS experience we know that most experts recommend the general public not to wear masks, mostly for the false sense of security they offer. Imagine you have a small baby and you have a bad flu. Normally you would just keep well away from the baby not to make him ill, but if you have a face mask you may have the false security that he's protected from the virus.

Although face masks work better when wore by the person actually ill, they are in no way as effective as thought. On the SARS outbreak, medical staff in Hong Kong got infected even when wearing protective masks and clothing. Until the SARS infection, clinical masks were good enough to protect against bacterial infections, but not against viral ones. Virus are much smaller than bacteria, and can get through the P3 respiratory masks filters. Apparently you can even get infected through the eyes. The only safe masks are those that cover the whole face, like the SafetyHood product. Even then, they have to be properly used. For example they should be disposed of properly after use, and the wearer has to be aware that virus can be carried on everything, clothes, hair, skin, so all clothes and body should be washed.

Hence the recommendation for the general population not to wear them. The best advise is to stay away, and if you are infected not to spread the virus.

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