Following the PM2.5 pollution, the H7N9 bird flu virus once again sparked a surge in mask sales. According to Taobao's Taobao Index, as of 5 p.m. on April 6th, the "mask" price index for the past seven days rose by 161.2% compared to the previous month and surged by 727.7% year-on-year. Prices ranged from just a few cents to nearly a thousand dollars. But how effective are masks against the H7N9 bird flu virus?
Wang Ping, deputy director of the Shenyang Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, stated that at present, there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission of H7N9, and there has been no outbreak in Shenyang. Therefore, wearing a mask is not particularly meaningful in this context. However, masks do offer some level of protection against influenza viruses. More importantly, people should avoid direct contact with sick or dead birds to reduce the risk of infection.
With the emergence of H7N9, mask sales have skyrocketed. The bird flu has caused widespread panic, and many businesses have taken advantage of the fear to boost sales. A wide range of products labeled as "H7N9 prevention" are now available, including masks, hand sanitizers, disinfectants, and even various foods and health supplements claiming to protect against the virus. Sales have seen a dramatic increase. Even garlic has jumped on the bandwagon, being sold as "black garlic for health benefits," with prices rising sharply—some reaching up to 31.6 yuan per kilogram.
Logging onto Taobao, it's clear that masks, hand sanitizers, and disinfectants related to H7N9 prevention have experienced a significant sales boost. One mask shop owner mentioned that on April 7th alone, they received over 200 orders. From April 1st to April 5th, more than 10,000 masks were sold in just five days.
While masks can play a role in preventing the spread of the virus, their effectiveness depends on the situation. Wang Ping explained that since there is no outbreak in Shenyang, it's unnecessary to wear masks for H7N9 prevention. However, if someone shows symptoms such as fever or cough, wearing a mask can help prevent spreading the illness to others.
At this stage, no specific strain of H7N9 has been isolated, so determining the most effective protective measures remains challenging. If someone comes into contact with a confirmed or suspected H7N9 patient, using a medical mask similar to the method used for H1N1 may be helpful. It is also recommended to replace medical masks every four hours and to avoid reusing disposable masks.
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