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In the event of an influenza pandemic, public health officials will need to resort to multiple measures to reduce the impact. If effective vaccines and anti-viral medications do not exist or are not available in adequate quantities during a pandemic situation, respirators and medical masks could help prevent or slow influenza transmission.
Based on the assumption that efforts to produce and stockpile sufficient supplies of disposable masks and/or respirators may fall short in the event of a pandemic, the US Department of Health and Human Services requested that an IOM committee examine issues relative to the potential reuse of medical masks and N95 respirators in the event of an influenza pandemic.
Over the course of three months, the committee held two meetings, requested information from manufacturers, and read a wide body of technical literature.
The committee’s work ascertained that very little is currently known regarding the potential to disinfect and reuse either medical masks or respirators. Fundamental research both in the epidemiology of influenza and in the material properties of medical masks and respirators is needed before methods of disinfection and reuse can be developed.
In spite of that lack of research, the committee, in its expert opinion, was able to develop a method of use that may allow for extended use of an N95 respirator. This recommendation is outlined in greater detail in the committee’s report.
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