Forty hospitals in Washington state may have received counterfeit N95 masks, officials say

by

The Department of Homeland Security issued a fraud alert to the Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA) on Friday, saying 40 hospitals across the state may have received fake masks as part of a shipment of 2 million masks that arrived in December, WSHA says President and CEO Cassie Sauer told CNN Monday.

The hospital association warned the 40 hospitals, but many of the masks had already been used, Sauer said.

“They look and feel and fit and smell just like a 3M mask,” said Sauer.

The masks were bought by hospitals and by WSHA to distribute to its members, according to the association. More than $ 1 million was spent on the purchase.

The company has marked several lottery numbers that may have been used by counterfeiters, and these lottery numbers are among the masks bought by the hospital association. The hospital association and some members are waiting for an analysis of the remaining lots, according to the association.

The hospital association is consulting with DHS and 3M to determine possible next steps. DHS was immediately warned by 3M, the mask manufacturers.

It is not known whether the counterfeits are as effective as a genuine N95 mask. However, Sauer said they have not seen an increase in Covid-19 cases in hospitals that have used them.

In a statement to CNN, 3M says it has worked with “law enforcement and customs agencies to prevent the sale and manufacture of fake masks.” The company said it has made a “global effort to combat fraud, counterfeiting and price increases to help protect the public from those trying to exploit the demand for critical 3M products during a pandemic.”

It was confirmed that the N95 respirators were “purchased from distributors with no relationship to 3M” and “were not genuine 3M products,” the company’s statement said.

Covid-19 Masks: Which Mask is Best for You and When to Use It

The company “recommends that you purchase our products only from an authorized 3M distributor.”

Sauer did not want to say where the association had bought the masks, but that it was from a distributor that the association often uses.

N95 masks are considered the gold standard in personal protective equipment because they block 95% of the large and small particles using a unique electrostatic filter.

The filter traps neutral particles such as bacteria and viruses before they pass through the mask, protecting the wearer and those around them. It’s similar to how socks can stick to a blanket in the dryer. The N95 mask also fits tightly on the face, eliminating most of the leakage that can occur with a loose-fitting cloth or paper mask.

.Source