Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
What Mask to Wear during Pneumonia outbreak? Surgical Mask or N95 Mask?
The outbreak of an unknown pneumonia in Wuhan, China and suspected cases in Hong Kong have caused great concern among the Hong Kong public.
N95 masks, used by medical personnel during the SARS outbreak, is experiencing panic buying. What masks should an average citizen actually wear? Surgical masks or N95 masks?
Professor David SC HUI of the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics of CUHK cited a report last year by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), analysing the probability of medical personnel wearing N95 masks or surgical masks contracting influenza. Results had shown that 8.2% of medical personnel wearing N95 masks contracted influenza, while 7.2% of those wearing surgical masks contracted Influenza, indicating there is no significant difference in the effectiveness between the two.
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Surgical Masks
Surgical masks are designed to prevent droplet transmission of diseases, and are suitable for unventilated environments like clinics and surgical theatres. However, it could not block particles with the radii smaller than 5μm, nor could it block any particulates or gases (including tear gas).
According to information from the Consumer Council, the three layers present in a typical surgical masks has three individual functions: the innermost layer retains moisture; the middle layer filters particles in the air; and the outermost layer resists water. However, surgical masks are disposable medical items with a maximum use time of 6 - 8 hours. The mask must also be replaced if it is broken, wet, or dirty.
Characteristics:
．Block disease-transmitting droplets
． Retain moisture, filter particles, and resist water
． Could not block droplets with radii smaller than 5μm
==========
N95 Masks
N95 masks are masks that abide to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's standards, which filters at least 95% of airborne particles but is not resistant to oil aerosols.
However, N95 masks are designed to fit perfectly onto the face, which results in the user breathing in their own exhaled carbon dioxide. Thus long-time usage could cause headaches due to dilation of cerebral blood vessels. It is recommended that users should replace the mask after eight hours of usage.
Characteristics:
．Filters at least 95% of airborne particles
．Not resistant to oil aerosols
．Long usage causes headaches
Exhalation valves are also present in some N95 masks, with the valve designed to be a single valve which reduces exhalation resistance, making it easier to breathe (exhale). However, the exhalation valve does not reduce inhalation resistance. Since air exhaled from the exhalation valve does not undergo filtration, wearers could still spread pathogens as though they have not wore a mask, thus this mask is not suitable for patients.
Source: Health Concept 健康概念; Consumer Council; Centers for Disease Control of Republic of China; "N95 Respirators vs Medical Masks for Preventing Influenza Among Health Care Personnel, A Randomized Clinical Trial"
#4Jan #Pneumonia #Plague
Emergency Notice:
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/14769
The outbreak of an unknown pneumonia in Wuhan, China and suspected cases in Hong Kong have caused great concern among the Hong Kong public.
N95 masks, used by medical personnel during the SARS outbreak, is experiencing panic buying. What masks should an average citizen actually wear? Surgical masks or N95 masks?
Professor David SC HUI of the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics of CUHK cited a report last year by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), analysing the probability of medical personnel wearing N95 masks or surgical masks contracting influenza. Results had shown that 8.2% of medical personnel wearing N95 masks contracted influenza, while 7.2% of those wearing surgical masks contracted Influenza, indicating there is no significant difference in the effectiveness between the two.
==========
Surgical Masks
Surgical masks are designed to prevent droplet transmission of diseases, and are suitable for unventilated environments like clinics and surgical theatres. However, it could not block particles with the radii smaller than 5μm, nor could it block any particulates or gases (including tear gas).
According to information from the Consumer Council, the three layers present in a typical surgical masks has three individual functions: the innermost layer retains moisture; the middle layer filters particles in the air; and the outermost layer resists water. However, surgical masks are disposable medical items with a maximum use time of 6 - 8 hours. The mask must also be replaced if it is broken, wet, or dirty.
Characteristics:
．Block disease-transmitting droplets
． Retain moisture, filter particles, and resist water
． Could not block droplets with radii smaller than 5μm
==========
N95 Masks
N95 masks are masks that abide to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's standards, which filters at least 95% of airborne particles but is not resistant to oil aerosols.
However, N95 masks are designed to fit perfectly onto the face, which results in the user breathing in their own exhaled carbon dioxide. Thus long-time usage could cause headaches due to dilation of cerebral blood vessels. It is recommended that users should replace the mask after eight hours of usage.
Characteristics:
．Filters at least 95% of airborne particles
．Not resistant to oil aerosols
．Long usage causes headaches
Exhalation valves are also present in some N95 masks, with the valve designed to be a single valve which reduces exhalation resistance, making it easier to breathe (exhale). However, the exhalation valve does not reduce inhalation resistance. Since air exhaled from the exhalation valve does not undergo filtration, wearers could still spread pathogens as though they have not wore a mask, thus this mask is not suitable for patients.
Source: Health Concept 健康概念; Consumer Council; Centers for Disease Control of Republic of China; "N95 Respirators vs Medical Masks for Preventing Influenza Among Health Care Personnel, A Randomized Clinical Trial"
#4Jan #Pneumonia #Plague
Emergency Notice:
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/14769
Telegram
📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#Alert #SARS #Plague #Jan2
Emergency Notice from BWHK & GOHK
Dear Readers,
Please wear a mask whenever you are leaving the house, wash your hands frequently and maintain good personal hygiene.
Today, the Hospital Authority confirmed that there was an…
Emergency Notice from BWHK & GOHK
Dear Readers,
Please wear a mask whenever you are leaving the house, wash your hands frequently and maintain good personal hygiene.
Today, the Hospital Authority confirmed that there was an…
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#Alert #ChinaPneumonia #Wuhan #Japan
HKT08:44 #Jan16
Wuhan Pneumonia Spread from China to Japan
Japan has confirmed its first case of an infection of the new coronavirus from China, the patient is a Chinese national who has visited Wuhan.
The patient has recovered and discharged from hospital.
Source: Now News #Jan16
Further reading: http://bit.ly/2u6yJo9
HKT08:44 #Jan16
Wuhan Pneumonia Spread from China to Japan
Japan has confirmed its first case of an infection of the new coronavirus from China, the patient is a Chinese national who has visited Wuhan.
The patient has recovered and discharged from hospital.
Source: Now News #Jan16
Further reading: http://bit.ly/2u6yJo9