Look before you buy that mask

Do you think all swine flu masks available in the market are medicated? Can they prevent you from the dreaded swine flu? With swine flu deaths increasing in the twin cities and in other districts of the state, the demand for swine flu masks is increasing and many prefer to wear them for protection against the H1N1 virus. However, all masks are not original and doctors warn against using fake masks which might create a new health hazard.It is believed the light-blue coloured masks available in the market are fake and cannot prevent from the flu virus. When Expresso visited various pharmacy shops located near the Gandhi General Hospital and Osmania General Hospital,  they had the fake swine flu masks on sale, which were not medicated and certified by authorities concerned. They were priced between Rs 60 and Rs120. “We have been selling swine flu masks since one year. We don’t know whether the masks are medicated or not. As there is a huge demand, we ordered more masks. We sell at least 200 to 400 masks per day for Rs 50 each,” said Ch Narasimha Rao, a medical store staff near the Gandhi Hospital.“There is no need for every one to wear the masks. If someone wants to wear them regularly, they have to change them every day. The N95 masks are medicated and expensive. Only the government provides these masks to doctors, nurses and para-medical staff working in various hospital departments, especially in isolation swine flu wards,” said Dr SV Prasad, superintendent of AP Government Chest Hospital. He advised people to wear masks certified by IS 2000 and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). But the masks would not be effective if one wears them for more than six hours. If you wear the same mask regularly, it would cause breathing problems. Dr Prasad urged people to be wary about fraudulent products for H1N1 flu prevention and treatment.He said the N95 masks, technically called respirators, work better than surgical masks which are certified by the Center for Disease Control (CDC). The masks are deemed to provide specific levels of protection from body fluid and blood penetration. NIOSH has also certified that the N95 masks work against swine flu. The NIOSH has approved the Type N95 respirator to meet the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements and CDC guidelines for tuberculosis exposure control. Prasad said the mask, when properly used can filter germs from the breath and prevent spread of flu.Hyderabad district medical and health officer,  Dr Ch Jayakumari told Expresso they would look into the matter and alert staff to make thorough checks at medical stores.  “However, the selling of fake swine flu masks in pharmacies would come under the jurisdiction of the drug control administration and they have to take action,” she adds. 

 By Mouli Mareedu