Face Mask that kills Swine Influenza?

Filligent, the Hong Kong-based biotech company, claims they are mobilizing stocks of a anti-infective face mask called BioMask which traps and kills 99.9% of bacteria and viruses on contact, and is a powerful weapon to contain the spread of the swine flu. The Filligent website claims:

"BioMask is the first medical face mask to kill the Influenza A virus within seconds of contact while retaining the breathability required by front-line workers and children, who are often the first to fall in a contagious episode. “Humanitarian organizations and governments are on the front line of containing infection, especially among children,” says CEO Melissa Mowbray-d’Arbela. “We’re allocating our resources to respond to their needs. The BioMask was designed specifically for situations like this.

According to the CDC, human influenza is transmitted from person to person primarily via virus-laden large droplets (particles >5 µm in diameter) that are generated when infected persons cough or sneeze; these large droplets can then be directly deposited onto the mucosal surfaces of the upper respiratory tract of susceptible persons who are near (i.e., within 3 feet) the droplet source. Transmission also may occur through direct and indirect contact with infectious respiratory secretions.

Currently, photos out of Mexico City show most people wearing mouth and nose protection of various types. Most are wearing blue, surgical face masks, passed out by the Mexican Government. These masks are designed to stop droplets from spreading from the person wearing the mask. They are not designed to protect the wearer via filtering out small particles. But, since flu viruses often travel on top of larger carrier molecules—like globs of mucus, covering your mouth and nose, may help. That's why CDC Director Julie Gerberding last week noted that covering your face with a T-shirt might help if you come in close contact with a sneezing and coughing infected person.

An upgrade to the surgical mask would be the disposable N95 masks that fit over the mouth and nose. These masks use a filtering material, and they are designed to fit more snugly against the face than a surgical mask, so that MOST of the air breathed comes through the filtered material.

On Monday, US Federal health officials admitted they do not know exactly how helpful the surgical or N95 masks are for preventing swine flu infection. The assumption is that if a person is contagious, these masks will help to contain the spray of their sneezes and/or coughings, and possible, they may offer some protection of a healthy person directly inhaling virus laden droplets from a sneeze or cough.

The CDC offers the following advice:
1. Whenever possible, rather than relying on the use of facemasks or respirators, close contact with people who might be ill and being in crowded settings should be avoided.
2. Facemasks should be considered for use by individuals who enter crowded settings, both to protect their nose and mouth from other people's coughs and to reduce the wearers' likelihood of coughing on others; the time spent in crowded settings should be as short as possible.
3. N95 or higher filtering facepiece respirator certified by the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), should be considered for use by individuals for whom close contact with an infectious person is unavoidable. This can include selected individuals who must care for a sick person (e.g., family member with a respiratory infection) at home.
Respirators differ from face masks in that they offer a more secure seal and with dual filters, can offer more filter protections. They are significantly more expensive, and not disposable (though the filters are).