Washington — The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted market clearance to a treated surgical mask that promises to inactivate virtually all strains of influenza virus in five minutes, Medscape News Today reports.
The BioMask features an inner layer treated with copper and zinc ions, which have been found to be effective protection against most influenza viruses. The mask is made by Filligent, a company based in Hong Kong that also manufactures antimicrobial wipes and shoe inserts.
According to Filligent officials, the FDA granted market clearance under a new medical device classification for antimicrobial and antiviral surgical face masks.