Research
[Nature] Respiratory virus shedding in exhaled breath and efficacy of face masks
![](https://fightcovid19.hku.hk/content/uploads/2020/04/kay-lau-vvgSoo6fvXM-unsplash-780x470.jpg)
Nature, 3 Apr 2020
Nancy H. L. Leung, Daniel K. W. Chu, Eunice Y. C. Shiu, Kwok-Hung Chan, James J. McDevitt, Benien J. P. Hau, Hui-Ling Yen, Yuguo Li, Dennis K. M. Ip, J. S. Malik Peiris, Wing-Hong Seto, Gabriel M. Leung, Donald K. Milton & Benjamin J. Cowling
![figure](https://fightcovid19.hku.hk/content/uploads/2020/04/41591_2020_843_Fig1_HTML-e1587373713985.jpg)
Hightlights:
- Surgical face masks could prevent transmission of human coronaviruses and influenza viruses from symptomatic individuals.
- Screened 3,363 individuals in two study phases, ultimately enrolling 246 individuals who provided exhaled breath samples.
- Aerosol transmission is a potential mode of transmission for coronaviruses as well as influenza viruses and rhinoviruses.
- Surgical masks can efficaciously reduce the emission of influenza virus particles into the environment in respiratory droplets, but not in aerosols.
- The majority of participants with influenza virus and coronavirus infection did not shed detectable virus in respiratory droplets or aerosols.
- There could be considerable heterogeneity in contagiousness of individuals with coronavirus and influenza virus infections.
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