Bird Flu MasksThis page is the result of many hours researching effective protection
for the current avian bird flu scare and it is hoped that it helps others
to make a more informed decision when considering the confusing array
of bird flu masks available. What does EN140: 2001 mean?Respirators are tested to the relevant European Standards and CE marked.
What is the difference between disposable FFP2 and FFP3 masks?FFP3 level protection is the highest grading available in the European
Union for disposable APRs (Air Purifying Respirators) in the EN149 class.
FFP3
masks provide 99% particle filtration efficiency and is the EU's close
equivalent to the American NIOSH
N99. FFP2 provides an Assigned Protection Factor of 10 x OEL and a Nominal Protection Factor of 12.5 x OEL. FFP2 masks provide 95% particle filtration efficiency and is the EU's close equivalent to the American NIOSH N95. OEL stands for Occupational Exposure Limits and is the limit on the
amount or concentration of a chemical to which workers may be exposed.
So which is the best of the so called 'bird flu masks?'Of disposable respirators in relation to bird flu protection it would seem that the following points are generally held to be true:FFP3 grade is the highest level available and the one mentioned more recently by the UK Government's Health Protection Agency. It is important to note however that they are generally referring to the protection that health workers should wear when dealing with an infected person rather than recommending bird flu masks for the general population. Having said that, should a bird flu pandemic strike it seems sensible to assume that those protective measures recommended by government agencies for medical staff would also be relevant for the general public. No official statements actually go so far as to say this in the UK (so far as we have seen), however it seems obvious that infection control procedures would be similar regardless of the environment they are employed in. The FFP3 mask clearly has a more powerful filtering capability (as per the OEL figures mentioned above) than the FFP2 version. In light of the lack of definitive answers in terms of which respirator is best for the job and the high mortality rate likely to result from from a bird flu pandemic should it occur, I would take the view that it would be wise to go with the top performer and choose the FFP3. I would also want to go for the one that was produced by a reputable manufacturer. Having said that, and based on the potential need to use 2 - 4 masks over the course of one day, the FFP3 may be cost prohibitive for some. This being the case the FFP2 could be considered as some models have been proven to provide robust filtration of 'certain' bacteria. The smaller the virus particle the harder it is to be filtered out and it is estimated that the bird flu virus (such as H5N1) will be around 0.1 microns in size which is quite small even in micro-organism terms (the average human hair is 40 microns). In order for a disposable respirator to be worn comfortably for a medium length of time it is generally accepted that a valve should be present. Bird flu masks without valves are not going to be very comfortable should you be wearing it on a hot and stuffy bus or a train on your way to work. This is particularly true of FFP3 respirators which are quite a bit thicker than the FFP2 type and as a result the majority of FFP3 masks are designed with a valve. One important point regarding all disposable respirators is that they
need to be carefully disposed of as controlled waste when coming out of
a contaminated area. This is because it is possible that the outer surface
of the mask could be carrying virus particles and so could actually become
a potential hazard itself. What about Reusable respirators as bird flu masks?Whilst there seem to be plenty of good quality reusable respirators on
the market, the following key points need to be considered when thinking
of making a reusable respirator your bird flu mask of choice: I suspect it has the potential to offer superior protection based on the fact that some of the devises I have seen provide a better seal around the face (via silicon or rubber type sealing) and there are more adjustment options in terms head harnesses and straps. 5) The biggest drawback with using reusable respirators as bird flu masks
appears to be the fact that if it's not disinfected thoroughly and the
filters not replaced following use in a contaminated area, this product
could actually become a vessel for virus particles to enter into your
safe area. Replacing the filters each time it is used could become expensive,
but then this may be comparable to using a new FFP3 disposable respirator
every day. SummarySo choosing the best option from the various possible bird flu masks does involve the careful consideration of some important points. Personally I would always want a supply of valve disposable FFP3 respirators close by (but if funds were not permitting I would go for FFP2) and then once I'd achieved that and if resources allowed I would consider acquiring a couple of reusable respirators and a supply of P3 filters in case things got very bad for a prolonged period of time and I needed to be sure that whenever I left the house I'd archived the best possible sealed fit. FFP3 disposable respirators would be better if the wearer needs to do a lot of talking at work (as very little impact on verbal communication abilities). Reusable respirators would need to be disinfected that evening to make sure they were clean and ready for use the next day and the filters replaced as mentioned above. I think that the above options along with protecting the eyes (protective specs or goggles) and hands (disposable gloves), would go along way to keeping people safe. The final considerations would be anti-bacterial spray (available at most supermarkets) for the home and work place along with a suitable hand sanitizer to keep your hands clear of infection when not wearing gloves. Some hand sanitizers I have seen claim to kill 99.99% of common bacteria and come in handy 80 - 120 ml sized bottles. You do not need use with water which could be convenient if you are out and about and unable to get to a sink although generally it is recommended that the sanitizer be applied to clean dry hands for best results. Lastly it may be that we are advised to stock up on coverall suits to keep our clothes free from contamination. Again these should be capable of protecting the wearer against particulates. Based on the risk of cross contamination (ie inadvertently bringing items into your safe area which may be contaminated) it may be wise to look for disposable type coveralls. You should also consider disinfecting footwear or wearing disposable overshoes as virus can quite easily be picked up and spread via the underside of footwear.Hopefully the information on this page is helpful and I look forward to hearing from you should you have any new information that I could add to this page. Beware the bogus Tamiflu sales sitesI have been made aware of several sites that try to attract visitors to their site by giving the impression that they supply of Tamiflu. On arriving at the site they carefully explain that in fact they do not offer Tamilfu but offer several dud links where the visitor can get help on their quest for Tamiflu. One particular site then goes on to berate several leading respirator brands and then, surprise surprise, goes on to try to sell the visitor their own unknown brand of respirator. As the interest in bird flu pandemic solutions grows so it seems the cowboys are saddling up - beware! LinksSuppliers of bird flu masks (although neither of these sites are endorsed):www.citysurvive.com www.birdflunewsportal.com www.avian-bird-flu-news.co.uk
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