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Salt can make surgical masks into a virus killer
Researchers have developed a special salt treatment that can make common surgical masks capable of trapping and killing airborne viruses.
Toronto: Researchers have developed a special salt treatment that can make common surgical masks capable of trapping and killing airborne viruses.
Airborne pathogens like influenza are transmitted in aerosol droplets when we cough or sneeze. The masks may well trap the virus-laden droplets but the virus is still infectious on the mask. Merely handling the mask opens up new avenues for infection.
Even respirators designed to protect individuals from viral aerosols have the same shortcoming -- viruses trapped in respirators still pose risks for infection and transmission.
Ironically, the inspiration for the new solution came from a problem that the researchers faced while developing oral vaccines.
The virus is exposed to continually increasing concentrations of salt. As the droplet evaporates, the virus suffers fatal physical damage when the salt returns to its crystalised state, the study said.
