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Those Masks Won't Save You

Apocalyptic fashion accessory isn't effective against viruses

By Nick McMaster, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 29, 2009 2:01 PM CDT

(Newser) – Chicago has swine flu fever—not the actual flu, mind you, but the pandemic of fear that has swept the US, Mary Schmich writes for the Tribune. Photos abound of Americans donning face masks to go out in public, and Schmich, calling around to pharmacists, found most fresh out. A Target pharmacist said she’d sold “at least 20 today.”

The mask hysteria ignores the fact that a respirator is probably a better way to keep germs out. "The surgical masks typically seen on the news and sold in the drugstore are designed to keep you from spreading your germs, not to keep viruses from getting you," writes Schmich. "Masks suggest something furtive, foreign. They come with a whiff of apocalypse. And they're not likely to save you from the swine flu."

A tourist police officer, dressed as a Mariachi, wears a surgical mask as a precaution against swine flu as he surveys a park in Mexico City, Wednesday, April 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Wearing protective face masks a woman and her child wait at the emergency area where people with swine flu-like symptoms are checked at the Naval hospital in Mexico City Wednesday April 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

A pedestrian wearing a health mask, who refused to be identified, walks in New York's Times square Wednesday April 29, 2009. (AP Photos/Bebeto Matthews)

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Those Masks Won't Save You

Apocalyptic fashion accessory isn't effective against viruses

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More Newser Stories

Night Shifts Boost Women's Diabetes Risk

Those who work rotating shifts more likely to get disease: Study

Malaria Deaths Plummet 20% Over Decade

Dozens of countries poised to eliminate disease

Insects, Diseases Invaded After 9/11

Tiny terrors infect food supply, bump prices

Casey Anthony Mask Auctioned for Almost $1M

It was made by pop artist Torro

Since 2001, New HIV Infections Plummeted 25%

Still, some 2.6M were infected in 2009

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Those Masks Won't Save You

Apocalyptic fashion accessory isn't effective against viruses

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

disease • flu medications • masks • swine flu

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Night Shifts Boost Women's Diabetes Risk

Those who work rotating shifts more likely to get disease: Study

Malaria Deaths Plummet 20% Over Decade

Dozens of countries poised to eliminate disease

Insects, Diseases Invaded After 9/11

Tiny terrors infect food supply, bump prices

Casey Anthony Mask Auctioned for Almost $1M

It was made by pop artist Torro

Since 2001, New HIV Infections Plummeted 25%

Still, some 2.6M were infected in 2009

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?