Another potential Problem with Masks: Reduced Viral Interference
If we inhale hundreds of thousands to millions of virions every minutes, and if most of these viruses are benign, and if they interfere/ compete with each other, then reducing overall virus exposure will also reduce exposure to benign but interfering/ competing viruses, thu…
Another potential Problem with Masks: Reduced Viral Interference
If we inhale hundreds of thousands to millions of virions every minutes, and if most of these viruses are benign, and if they interfere/ compete with each other, then reducing overall virus exposure will also reduce exposure to benign but interfering/ competing viruses, thus canceling any benefit.
Perhaps this situation explains why even suffocating N95 Respirators vs surgical masks did not reduce influenza infections in this 2019 randomized controlled trial among medical workers.
Another potential Problem with Masks: Reduced Viral Interference
If we inhale hundreds of thousands to millions of virions every minutes, and if most of these viruses are benign, and if they interfere/ compete with each other, then reducing overall virus exposure will also reduce exposure to benign but interfering/ competing viruses, thus canceling any benefit.
Perhaps this situation explains why even suffocating N95 Respirators vs surgical masks did not reduce influenza infections in this 2019 randomized controlled trial among medical workers.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2749214
Great point!