Immune compromised. Need to buy swine flu mask for airline travel...Recommendations...

[atwnsw]

I have Cystic Fibrosis and am immune compromised.

Any suggestions on what is the best mask to prevent swine flu and where to order it online at the best price?

I will be flying in a couple of weeks and want to take all the available precautions available...

Thanks in advance...

Anthony

[radford]

Quote from atwnsw : I have Cystic Fibrosis and am immune compromised. Any suggestions on what is the best mask to prevent swine flu and where to order it online at the best price? I will be flying in a couple of weeks and want to take all the available precautions available... Thanks in advance... Anthony

Ive read they dont work that well but heres some articles that mention how effective they are and the different types of masks.

http://www.examiner.com/x-18331-N...-swine-flu

this one has the same topics but also lists specific models to get.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/healt...9903.story

CDC guidelines
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/masks.htm

Use these prices as a benchmark:
8612 - 2 for $26
http://www.amazon.com/Nexcare-3M-...B002NBQORC
8670 - 20 for $50
http://www.amazon.com/3M-respirat...=1-2-fkmr1

http://www.fluguardusa.com/pandem...html#masks
http://www.fluguardusa.com/pandem...masks.html


http://www.systoc.com/newscomment...irator.asp

There are two types of protection -- face masks and respirators. Masks are loose-fitting and designed to stop the spread of droplets from the person wearing the mask, not to protect the wearer from viruses. Respirators are close-fitting and more expensive. They are designed to reduce exposure to airborne particles. The CDC recommends N95 respirators for healthcare workers. The Food and Drug Administration has approved of four models of respirators for use by the general public to help reduce exposure during a flu pandemic: 3M respirators models 8612F and 8670F, and Pasture Pharma respirator models F550G and A520G. These masks have been tested and shown to achieve a satisfactory fit for most adults. It's easiest to find them online.

But do they really work?

It's still unclear how influenza is largely spread, whether through direct contact, the spray of droplets from an infected person to an uninfected person (within a proximity of six feet), or through inhaling smaller, airborne particles.

However, studies show that fit-tested N95 respirators filter out 95% to 99% of influenza particles and have maximum effectiveness when fitted properly to the face. A study published last year in the journal PLoS One found that respirators are more efficient than masks at reducing the transmission of respiratory infections. Another study, published in April in the journal Risk Analysis, concluded that N95 respirators combined with the use of humidifiers and ventilation in a household improves infection control by 20% to 70%, according to a mathematical model.

[scarletknight]

n 95 will seem to be the best one after i did alot of reading. Customs will be using them from what I hear from my buddy.
scarlet

[radford]

Quote from scarletknight : n 95 will seem to be the best one after i did alot of reading. Customs will be using them from what I hear from my buddy. scarlet

Youve got to feel sorry for the immune compromised people. You start reading up on med problems and it seems like our healthy immune systems really act as a powerful defense for tons of diseases. If you are really young , old or have HIV and other immune system problems --- suddenly a gazillion common bacteria and viruses become potential horrific problems that docs may not be able to help you with. Things we take for granted , common environments -- they suddenly become horrific minefields for the immune compromised.

You get a glimpse of that when even healthy people suddenly get the brain eating amoeba out of nowhere of the flesh eating bacteria. There was the hype about antibiotic resistant TB a while ago and my local paper had a story last summer of a 40 yr old teacher who suddenly died due to the flesh eating bacteria.

http://www.starbulletin.com/news/... her.html
Hawaii , one of the worst regions for flesh eating bacteria though its still relatively rare
http://www.khnl.com/global/story.asp?s=10302870

Thats probably why they keep the hospitals as cold as a meat locker. When it gets humid here though the ACs become extremely ineffective.

There was a case on Dr G Medical Examiner where a woman might have gotten herpes from guy at a bar and for some reason her immune system couldnt fight it and she died covered in horrific lesions all over her body.

When I go to the hospital Im using those antibacterial gel dispensers they have all over the hospital like crazy despite the fact they warn about overuse of it causing AB resistant bugs and Im washing myself down thoroughly when I get back since obviously hospitals are where all the sick people go to.