PUNE: In the absence of a proper disposal system for used masks in the city, which is a cause of concern since used masks can spread the H1N1 virus, medical practitioners and experts across the city have advocated the use of cloth masks or handkerchiefs which can be washed and used again.

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has decided to put to use its incinerator to dispose of the masks. "The disposable masks will be collected from hospitals along with with the bio-medical waste and will be disposed of in the incinerator. As for masks that are thrown on the roads, we have asked the ward medical officers to make sure that such masks are collected and disposed off properly," said Suresh Jagtap, head of the solid waste management department of the PMC. He also requested people not to leave used masks around carelessly.

Speaking to TOI, Dilip Sarda, president of the Indian Medical Association's (IMA) Pune branch, said that careless disposal of masks would only result in the faster spread of the H1N1 infection. "The virus is alive for almost eight hours after it leaves the human body, so the chance of the virus spreading from these used masks left around is high. That apart, there are now some people who are selling used masks at traffic signals. This is extremely dangerous," he said. He said that people using disposable masks should throw them in trash bins after wrapping them.

Molecular biologist Nikhil Phadke is of the opinion that since the virus can stay alive for almost two to eight hours, it is essential for people not to come in contact with the used masks. "The virus can spread to unaffected places this way. The mask needs to be disposed of in the trash. For example, a ragpicker coming in contact with a used mask would unknowingly spread it to a number of other people," said Phadke. He added that equal care needs to be taken about the disposal of other objects that have come in contact with a patient, such as tissues, napkins and paper towels.

The secretary of the Kagad Kach Patra Kashtakari Panchyat (KKPKP), Laxmi Narayan, says that the organisation is aware of the health risk that these used masks pose for waste-pickers. "While we have been telling them to take particular care, we have been able to inform only those who are involved in home-based collection of waste. It is difficult to get the message out to scavengers. We are very concerned because the H1N1 flu would spread quickly among this particular population," she added.