Good point.

When used against gas or biological weapons or all that other terrorist stuff certain people would have you believe is a risk, they're not effective. But they are effective at keeping particulates out of your face and lungs...even with a beard. Dust is the one thing I'm most worried about. If there's a bird flu pandemic, the mask will keep particulates out of my mouth...in addition to my hands.

Plus if anything serious were to happen, I always have the option to shave it off or tape it to my face.

I also keep a full face respirator filter mask in the garage for painting...it's big and keeps a positive seal.

If I were really worried, I'd buy a Scott Air Pack. I've been trained to use those and the beard is not an issue.

Remember that viruses also enter through the eyes. So, the mask may actually be of limited value.

Anybody with medical background feel free to correct me if I am misinformed.

From what I know of bird flu, it's no more infectous than any other case of influenza.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Influenza

If memory serves the 3 most common ways of catching flu are your mouth, nose and eyes BUT (also if memory serves) 90% of infections happen because of contact between your hands and those parts of your body...not the air. If the only purpose the mask serves is to keep my finger out of my nose, then I'm that much safer LOL.

I've heard that Japan is one of the countries least at risk for a viral pandemic because of how few people shake hands and because they're very ritual about children washing their hands in school.

I agree 100% on the contact transference.

Keeping fingers out of the nose...key point. However, it does take some of the fun out of life.

As they say, the most important thing you can do to prevent transmission is to wash your hands.