Should I wear a mask to avoid the swine flu?

WASHINGTON - When the H1N1 virus started to spread rapidly in the spring, many people starting wearing surgical masks to avoid catching the virus, but does that really work?

Not really says Dr. Gloria Addo-Ayensu, Fairfax County health director.

"You can wear a mask and contaminate the mask," she says. "When you take the mask off and you don't wash your hands you can actually get ill because the outside of the mask will be contaminated."

She adds that it can actually give people a false sense of security.

Dr. Ulder Tillman, director of the Montgomery County Health Department, agrees.

"You may be feeling better yourself that you've but a mask on," says Tillman, "but it's going to be hard to keep that mask on all day long as you're out."

Tillman says that a mask does become a good idea once you've already become ill to help prevent the further spread of the disease.

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