The healthcare industry is abuzz with the possibility of the emergence of a flu pandemic. Scientists are on a race to find an effective vaccine, drug manufacturers are speeding up production, and governments are stocking up on flu medications.

But along with infuenza drugs, masks, respirators and gloves are also fast becoming hot commodities.

Many companies are now stockpiling masks and gloves. The current growth of consumer demand is unknown, however. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has about 1 million masks in a national stockpile, with orders placed for 99 million more.

But how effective are these devices in the event of a pandemic?

"I would not recommend face masks alone. I would not recommend that anyone using a mask think that is adequate protection," said John C. Bailar, a physician and epidemiologist who chaired the committee at the Institute of Medicine that examined the question.
Masks are "part of a package that includes vaccination if it is available, isolation of patients and quarantining, closing of public meetings and schools, 'social distancing' and the washing of hands," he said in a telephone conference with reporters after release of the 97-page report requested by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Read the full story from the Washington Post, which also mentions brief descriptions of the differnt types of masks that are available in the market.

About the author: Ruth Schaffer is a Microbiologist by training and currently authors the Allergy and Biotechnology weblogs for Creative Weblogging, and a Asian travel weblog for b5media.. She is a mother to a bi-racial, bilingual, precocious 3-yr old.