X-Message-Number: 28195 From: David Stodolsky <> Subject: Simple Respiratory Mask Date: Mon, 10 Jul 2006 12:58:30 +0200 Simple Respiratory Mask The World Health Organization recommends protective equipment including masks (if they not available, a cloth to cover the mouth is recom- mended) for persons who must handle dead or ill chickens in regions affect- ed by H5N1. Quality commercial masks are not always accessible, but anecdotal evidence has showed that handmade masks of cotton gauze were protective in military barracks and in healthcare workers during the Manchurian epidemic. A simple, locally made, washable mask may be a solution if commercial masks are not available. We describe the test results of 1 handmade, reusable, cot- ton mask. Virginia M. Dato,* David Hostler,* and Michael E. Hahn* *University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA Emerging Infectious Diseases www.cdc.gov/eid Vol. 12, No. 6, June 2006 dss David Stodolsky Skype: davidstodolsky Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=28195