A dummy test head attached to a breathing simulator was used to test the performance of a variety of surgical masks against a viral challenge. Live influenza virus was measurable from the air behind all surgical masks tested. The data indicate that a surgical mask will reduce exposure to aerosolised infectious influenza virus; reductions ranged from 1.1- to 55-fold (average 6-fold), depending on the design of the mask
Effectiveness of surgical masks against influenza bioaerosols.
A dummy test head attached to a breathing simulator was used to test the performance of a variety of surgical masks against a viral challenge. Live influenza virus was measurable from the air behind all surgical masks tested. The data indicate that a surgical mask will reduce exposure to aerosolised infectious influenza virus; reductions ranged from 1.1- to 55-fold (average 6-fold), depending on the design of the mask