U Of M Students Put On Masks For Study ANN ARBOR, MI (Michigan Radio) - Hundreds of University of Michigan students began participating in a study this week to determine if wearing surgical masks prevents the flu.

Students will wear surgical masks in their dorms for the next month, while the flu season is at its peak. Students who participate will get 100 dollars at the end of the study, plus a chance to win I-Pod Shuffles.

Elizabeth Reeths says recruiters for the study convinced her to sign up. "We had a presentation, they came to the residence halls association meeting, and it seemed like a really interesting study and they really needed our help so I was like sure, I'll get involved," she said.


Researchers say they hope to prove that wearing a mask reduces the chance of getting the flu. They say that information will be invaluable the next time there is a flu pandemic in the U.S. © Copyright 2009, Michigan Radio