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Why do surgical masks play an important role in the fight against airborne diseases?
Surgical masks undoubtedly play a vital role in the fight against infectious diseases, especially airborne viruses and bacteria. Surgical masks, often referred to as medical masks, are primarily used as personal protective equipment for medical workers. This mask is designed to act as a mechanical barrier to prevent the wearer's respiratory openings (nose and mouth) from direct contact with the surrounding environment, reducing the spread of respiratory droplets.
Surgical masks reduce the risk of pathogens spreading in the community by blocking most respiratory droplets.
Functions and Efficacy of Surgical Masks
The main function of a surgical mask is to protect the wearer and those around them by blocking respiratory droplets emitted by coughing, sneezing or talking. While their filter material protects against certain viruses and bacteria, surgical masks don't offer as much protection as filtering respirators like N95s due to the loose fit between the mask and the face.
Studies have shown that surgical masks can reduce the risk of infection from infectious diseases such as influenza, but the strength of the evidence in these studies is not high. A large study involving more than 300,000 people suggests that surgical masks can reduce the spread of the virus in the community, which may be related to the masks filtering some air particles. The results of these studies are somewhat limited by differences in mask quality.
Practical use of surgical masks
Surgical masks are usually rectangular in design and have pleats to better cover the entire area from nose to chin. The outside is usually a darker liquid-repellent layer, while the inside is a water-absorbent layer. In some Asian countries, masks are often considered civilized behavior, especially worn by sick people to avoid spreading the virus.
Surgical masks are not only a necessity at the medical site, but also an important protective equipment in daily life due to seasonal influenza and air pollution.
The use of surgical masks has sparked widespread discussion during the COVID-19 pandemic, as mask shortages become a significant issue. Although the government and public health agencies actively promote mask wearing at the community level, there are still many questions and uneasiness among ordinary people.
Trends of scientific research and development
To meet widespread demand, scientists continue to explore mask designs that can more effectively block the spread of viruses, and have even developed masks embedded with biosensors that can detect pathogens in real time. In addition, in response to the problem of environmental pollution after the use of masks, there are also studies focusing on improving the degradability or recycling design of masks.
Conclusion
While surgical masks do not provide the same protection as models like N95 or FFP2, they remain an important tool in reducing airborne illness in medical settings and in the community. As we face possible disease threats in the future, how to effectively use surgical masks and strengthen public health common sense is still a question worth pondering?
