Influenza Virus Aerosols in Human Exhaled Breath: Particle Size, Culturability, and Effect of Surgical Masks

• Published in: PLoS pathogens Vol. 9; no. 3; p. e1003205
• Main Authors: Milton, Donald K., Fabian, M. Patricia, Cowling, Benjamin J., Grantham, Michael L., McDevitt, James J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 01.03.2013; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Aerosols; Air Microbiology; Chemistry; Cough - virology; Cross Infection - prevention & control; Cross Infection - virology; Disease control; Disease transmission; Exhalation; Health aspects; Humans; Influenza; Influenza, Human - transmission; Masks; Medicine; Orthomyxoviridae - physiology; Particle Size; Physiological aspects; Respiration; RNA, Viral; Studies; Virus Shedding; United States

The CDC recommends that healthcare settings provide influenza patients with facemasks as a means of reducing transmission to staff and other patients, and a recent report suggested that surgical masks can capture influenza virus in large droplet spray. However, there is minimal data on influenza vir...