Mask isn't fail-safe answer for bird flu
Houston Chronicle
April 28, 2006

The Institute of Medcine says not to assume that a face mast will offer much protection from the b ird flu. If the bird flu pandemic does happen millions will probably utilize masks although there is not much evidence that it will block the virus. Wearing masks may falsely cause a sense of security and people will be exposed to the flu when they should have stayed away from crowds and infected people. Officials are not saying to not use it but not to expect to be fully protected. These masks are meant to be used once and then thrown away.