俄科學家發明納米銀口罩 或有助防新冠病毒

俄羅斯科學家最近發現，一種新型材料可殺死流感病毒，他們希望能將這種材料用於製造口罩，幫助人們抵禦流感病毒和新型冠狀病毒的侵襲。

Scientists hope a material which they say can kill bacteria and viruses could be used in face masks to help tackle the outbreak of the new coronavirus.

科學家希望，一種他們聲稱可以殺死細菌和病毒的材料能夠用於製造口罩，以幫助應對新型冠狀病毒。

The material features nanosilver, which has antibacterial properties, and was made using a process known as melt blowing. This makes polypropylene microfibers with a diameter of one micron, explained Alexander Zhanovich Medvedev, who worked on the project and leads a lab at the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (SBRAS). It is not clear if the research had been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

這種材料的主要成分是具有抗菌特性的納米銀，通過使用熔噴工藝製備而成。從事該項目研究工作的亞歷山大·扎諾維奇·梅德韋傑夫解釋說，該工藝可製成直徑1微米的聚丙烯超細纖維。梅德韋傑夫目前負責俄羅斯科學院西伯利亞分院一個實驗室的工作。目前尚不清楚這項研究是否已刊登在同行評審期刊上。

Medvedev said in a statement that he and colleagues fitted their creation in the inner layer of a conventional three-layer medical mask.

梅德韋傑夫在一份聲明中說，他和同事把製成的材料裝在一個常規三層醫用口罩的內層。

Researchers tested the mask against the influenza A virus as well as the staphylococcus and E. coli bacteria, according to Nikolai Zakharovich Lyakhov, chief researcher at the Institute of Chemistry and Technology at the SBRAS.

該院化學和技術研究所首席研究員尼古拉·扎哈羅維奇·利亞霍夫說，研究人員測試了這種口罩抵禦甲型流感病毒以及葡萄球菌和大腸桿菌的性能。

When the team compared the new material with that of regular masks, ten thousand times more viruses passed through the latter.

當研究團隊將這種新材料口罩與普通口罩做對比，發現穿透普通口罩的病毒數量要高出1萬倍。

Lyakhov said: "Our material kills, completely deactivates viruses." However, he added it's unclear exactly how it works, and this problem must be approached in separate research projects.

利亞霍夫說：“我們的材料可以殺死以及完全抑制病毒。”不過，他接着說，尚不完全清楚該材料的工作機理，必須在其他研究項目中研究這一問題。

deactivate[diːˈæktɪveɪt]：vt.使無效；使不活動

The team believe the material could protect people against influenza A for up to 10 hours, compared to regular masks which need to be changed every one to two hours.

研究團隊認爲，這種材料能夠保護人們免受甲型流感侵襲長達10小時，而普通口罩則需要每1到2小時更換一次。

The mask is reusable but would be more expensive than regular face masks, according to a news release from the Institute of Solid State Chemistry and Mechanochemistry of the SBRAS.

俄羅斯科學院西伯利亞分院固體化學和機械化學研究所發佈的一份新聞稿稱，這種新口罩可重複使用，但會比普通口罩貴。

Lyakhov said he spoke to infectious disease specialists who said that as the cloth kills the influenza A virus, "then most likely other viruses that cause respiratory infections should be exposed to the same effect."

利亞霍夫說，他與傳染病專家進行了交談。這些專家稱，既然這種口罩可以殺死甲型流感病毒，“那麼很可能對引起呼吸道感染的其他病毒也有同樣效果”。

Medvedev said the team have developed a production line so prototypes can be made for testing by specialists.

梅德韋傑夫說，研究團隊已建成一條生產線，以便製造樣品供專家測試。

Lyakhov is in close contact with partners in China, he said, and is willing to send samples there for testing.

梅德韋傑夫說，利亞霍夫與中國的合作伙伴保持着密切聯繫，願意將樣品送到中國進行測試。

Dr. Amesh Adalja, a scholar at the Center for Health Security at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health told Market Watch most people don't know how to use the masks correctly in order avoid catching infections. What's more, those rushing out to buy them could lead to supply shortages, meaning health care providers struggle to access them.

約翰斯·霍普金斯大學布隆伯格公共衛生學院衛生安全中心學者阿梅什·阿達爾賈博士對市場觀察網站說，大多數人不知道如何正確使用口罩以避免感染病毒。此外，那些衝出去購買口罩的人可能導致供應短缺，這意味着醫護人員難以獲得口罩。

一起來看一段視頻，學習一下如何正確選擇和佩戴口罩：

As there is no vaccine against novel coronavirus, the CDC asks the public to follow the usual steps to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses.

由於沒有針對新型冠狀病毒的疫苗，美國疾病控制和預防中心要求公衆遵循常規措施來防止呼吸道病毒的傳播。

These include washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, particularly after using the bathroom, before eating, and after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose. When sneezing or coughing, cover your mouth with a tissue or your elbow and throw away the tissue immediately. Try not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands. Stay at home if you are sick, and if you are well, avoid those who are ill. Objects and surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected regularly using spray or wipes.

這些常規措施包括：常用肥皂和水洗手至少20秒，尤其是在使用衛生間後、進食前以及咳嗽、打噴嚏或擤鼻涕之後；打噴嚏或咳嗽時，應用紙巾或手肘捂住嘴，隨後立即扔掉紙巾；儘量不要用沒洗過的手觸摸眼睛、鼻子或嘴；生病時請待在家裏；如果你很健康，請避免接觸病人；物品及各種表面應定期使用噴霧或抹布清潔和消毒。