Do You REALLY Need N95 Respirators? YES!

The CDC wants healthcare providers to know that not just any mask is going to do if you find yourself face-to-face with H1N1. In fact, they recommend that "all healthcare personnel who enter the rooms of residents in isolation with confirmed, suspected or probable novel H1N1 influenza should wear a fit-tested disposable N95 respirator or better." In addition, Flu.gov, which is maintained by the Department of Health & Human Services, is advising personnel that N95 respirators should be removed and appropriately discarded once they've been worn in the presence of a resident with pandemic flu.