40 hospitals in Washington state may have found counterfeit N95 masks, officials say

40 hospitals in Washington state may have found counterfeit N95 masks, officials say

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

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

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

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

The company has marked several lot numbers that may have been used by counterfeiters, and these lot numbers are among the masks purchased by the hospital association. According to the association, the hospital association and several members are awaiting the analysis of the remaining plots.

The hospital association is meeting with DHS and 3M to determine possible next steps. DHS was immediately alerted by 3M, the makers of the masks.

It is not known if the imitations are as effective as a true N95 mask. However, Sauer said they did not see an increase in Covid-19 cases in hospitals that used it.

In a statement to CNN, 3M says they are working with law enforcement and customs agencies to prevent the sale and manufacture of fake masks. The company said it had launched a “global effort to combat fraud, counterfeiting and prize money to protect the public from those trying to exploit the demand for critical 3M products during a pandemic.”

It was confirmed that the N95 breathing machines were “purchased from distributors unrelated to 3M” and that they were “not authentic 3M products”, according to the company statement.

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The company “recommends that we buy products only from a 3M authorized distributor.”

Sauer did not want to say where the association bought the masks, but that it comes from a distributor who uses the association regularly.

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

The filter works by capturing neutral particles such as bacteria and viruses before passing through the mask and protects the wearer and those around it. This is similar to how socks can get stuck to a blanket in the dryer. The N95 mask also fits securely on the face, eliminating most leaks that can occur with a loose cloth or paper mask.

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