In Reply to: are you wearing a mask here?? posted by clovis on Friday, 1. May 2009 at 08:50 Bali Time:
As of last night there were no reported confirmed cases in Australia.
Masks serve two purposes in preventing the transmission of droplet-borne viruses: they filter particulate matter to reduce the risk of inhaling virus; and they limit droplet spread from infected people. My understanding is there is limited evidence as to how effective these measures are, but health authorities generally recommend their use in appropriate circumstances.