ST Non-woven Disposable Surgical Face Mask - Blue

• 3 Ply Spun Polypropylene
• Standard Size
• Surgical Pattern
• Ear Loop
• Packaging 50 pieces boxed
• Hygiene, Clinical, Laboratory and Food Areas
• Minimal Risk

Researchers at the University of New South Wales, Australia, and the Medical Research Council Centre for Outbreak Analysis and Modelling at Imperial College London ran a clinical trial to investigate the effectiveness of masks. They found that adults who wore masks in the home were four times less likely than non-wearers to be infected by children in the household with a respiratory infection.

A clinical trial has shown that face masks can protect against respiratory illnesses such as flu and the common cold, but convincing people to wear them is harder.

"In a severe influenza pandemic, there may be limited availability of vaccines in the first few months,” said Professor Neil Ferguson, Director of the MRC Centre for Outbreak Analysis and Modelling at Imperial College London and an author on the study. “In that context, masks are a potentially important additional weapon in the public health arsenal.”

The University of New South Wales team, led by Professor Raina MacIntyre, recruited more than 280 adults in 143 families in Sydney during the winter seasons of 2006 and 2007. The adults were randomly allocated masks when exposed to a sick child in the household.

Less than half of those asked to wear masks reported having done so consistently. However, adherence to preventative measures is known to vary depending on perception of risk and could be expected to increase during a respiratory disease pandemic.

Issued by the Medical Research Council
Monday 26 January 2009