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Sci Rep
. 2024 Aug 30;14(1):20211.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-70615-z. Minimal influenza virus transmission from touching contaminated face masks: a laboratory study
Yuxuan Fan 1 2 3 , Hidekazu Nishimura 4 , Soichiro Sakata 5 , Yasuhiro Okada 6 , Satoru Ebihara 2 , Julian W Tang 7 8 , Masahiro Kohzuki 2 9
Affiliations
The risk of virus transmission via the touching of contaminated masks has long been assumed by infection control teams. Yet, robust evidence to support this belief has been lacking. This risk was investigated in a laboratory setting by measuring the amount of viable influenza virus successfully transferred from artificially contaminated medical (surgical) mask surfaces to a human finger used to swipe their outer surface under various experimental conditions. Despite being exposed to high levels of virus contamination on the masks, very little or no viable virus was successfully transferred from the mask to the finger in these experiments.
. 2024 Aug 30;14(1):20211.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-70615-z. Minimal influenza virus transmission from touching contaminated face masks: a laboratory study
Yuxuan Fan 1 2 3 , Hidekazu Nishimura 4 , Soichiro Sakata 5 , Yasuhiro Okada 6 , Satoru Ebihara 2 , Julian W Tang 7 8 , Masahiro Kohzuki 2 9
Affiliations
- PMID: 39215108
- PMCID: PMC11364630
- DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-70615-z
The risk of virus transmission via the touching of contaminated masks has long been assumed by infection control teams. Yet, robust evidence to support this belief has been lacking. This risk was investigated in a laboratory setting by measuring the amount of viable influenza virus successfully transferred from artificially contaminated medical (surgical) mask surfaces to a human finger used to swipe their outer surface under various experimental conditions. Despite being exposed to high levels of virus contamination on the masks, very little or no viable virus was successfully transferred from the mask to the finger in these experiments.