Would surgical masks help as protection from Avian Flu?
Surgical facemasks are not suitable for use as protection against Avian Influenza (H5N1). The primary reason for a surgical facemask is to protect the patient from any potential harmful, biological particle being expelled by the wearer. The major problem with using a surgical facemask, in the event of a pandemic, is the loose fit around the face. The filtration of these masks is relatively good, however with the slackness of the product, they are very susceptible to air leakage and thus would be rendered useless against Avian Flu. Only respirators in compliance with EC Directive 89/686 (e.g. FFP2 or FFP3) are recommended as suitable for respiratory protection against air borne particles. As surgical masks do not comply with this legislation they cannot be used to protect against risk of exposure to micro-organisms, such as the H5N1. What are FFP2 and FFP3 face masks and how can they help? The FFP2 face masks (European equivalent of N95 Mask) available from Kays Medical are shaped to fi
