A new podcast produced by the University of Colorado at Boulder News Services office features safety expert Mike Morrison of the department of Environmental Health and Safety talking about the safe use of disposable masks in the event of a flu pandemic.
To access the podcast go to and click "play" on "Use of Fitted Masks in Case of a Flu Pandemic." Recent podcasts on "Safe Schools" and "CU-Boulder Passes Peace Corps Milestone" also are posted on the Web site.
In the newest podcast, Morrison explains the safety features of disposable surgical and fitted N95 masks. He also demonstrates how to correctly use the N95.
Since spring 2006 the CU-Boulder campus has been gearing up for the possibility of a flu pandemic. The podcast is a companion to a November 2006 podcast that focused on how campus officials plan to keep the university running in the event a pandemic occurs as well as detailing the steps under way to encourage students, faculty and staff to stay healthy.
In recent years, health care experts have warned that the avian flu, the H5N1 virus, or another virus could mutate into a form that triggers the next human influenza pandemic. The United States has not experienced a major flu pandemic since 1968-69, when the Hong Kong flu killed some 34,000 Americans.
For more information on CU-Boulder's pandemic flu planning go to or .