When 90 people got H1N1, everyone is wearing surgical masks, when 2 million people got HIV no one bothers to wear a condom.

Makes sense, Eh? Very true to an extent!

Pune is witnessing an acute shortage of surgical masks these days. Thanks to the dramatic hoopla created around these masks. And not to forget, we have a fancy N-series (not to be confused with Nokia N-series, though it’s no lesser) of masks in circulation. Masks seem to be in vogue – they are selling like hot cakes and they have started becoming more of a fashion statement.

"The much hyped N95 respirators are designed to filter 95% particulates of 0.3 micron, while the size of H1N1 virus is about 0.1 micron. Hence, dependence on N95 to protect against H1N1 is like protecting against rain with an umbrella made of mosquito net."

The Dean in AFMC circulated a notice saying, "No one should be seen wearing surgical masks unless while operating on a patient." Now, can you beat that? I was quite happy on this announcement. The basic idea is that people wearing these masks is just another source of creating panic.

Why don’t the people understand that these face masks are of no help (or of very limited help for that matter) to them, if not properly used/handled and why they don’t damn understand that when they throw these used masks on the road side, they are opening another bigger can of worms for others? Why can’t they dispose their masks properly? Why do they use these masks without knowing proper guidelines of their usage and disposal?

Can you really prevent yourself to come in contact with H1N1 when it is in so much magnitude in the air (Pune has it at the highest intensity level – 6)? At a scale where it has been declared a pandemic by the WHO, it’s almost impossible to avoid coming in contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions.