Surgical-style masks fail to fully shut out flu

Japan's National Consumer Affairs Center is warning people not to rely too much on surgical-style masks for protection against new influenza viruses.

The center tested 15 types of masks on the market, and found that none perfectly fits the user's face, even those that claim to shut out 99 percent of airborne viruses.

The center has urged manufacturers to change their labeling to avoid misunderstanding among consumers.

The outbreak of H1N1 influenza has heightened consumer worry about the effectiveness of the masks.

Inquiries to the consumer affairs center have jumped to nearly 600 as of the end of September, from the 80 in the year that ended in March.

Risa Yoshida of the center's product testing division says masks work for people with coughs, but that hand-washing and gargling are more effective for warding off flu viruses.