Normal surgical masks help prevent people with the flu from spreading the virus just as well as more expensive face protection, a study shows for the first time.
Australian researchers found that in a real-life situation surgical masks effectively contain the virus when infected people cough.
Previous studies tested masks in laboratories using machines, not humans, and with non-infectious particles, says co-author Professor Lindsay Grayson, director of infectious diseases at Melbourne's Austin Hospital.
"Our study compared the value of masks for the first time in a real-life clinical situation, in people with flu," Grayson says.
No influenza virus was detected when participants wore the surgical or N95 mask but influenza was detected on all dishes when no mask was worn.
"Using this method, both masks appear to work equally as well because there was no detectable virus on the dishes. The material of both masks stopped droplets escaping," Grayson says.
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