Wearing a mask can prevent swine flu. It is important to wear face masks while traveling or at any public place. But there are a few things which you must know about these masks:

Basically, there are two types of flu masks and these are respirators and surgical masks. Doctors use cotton surgical masks for prevention of spread o swine flu or any other illness. They can be used while sneezing and coughing as they avoid falling of droplets outside. They also give protection when other people sneeze or cough. Of course, as compared to N95 masks, they are inferior but still, they give some percentage of protection.

Respirators are also termed as N95 respirators. They are designed to filter out 95 percent of particles. Thus it gives good protection and they are more effective.

You can even make a mask out of a clean large handkerchief or a piece of cloth. But as compared to above two masks the effectiveness is lower. However, the only thing that it can do is avoid falling of droplets while other people sneeze or cough. You must clean the mask by washing it regularly.

However, no mask will give you 100 percent protection. But still, wearing one can be helpful.