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据BBC新闻近日报道说，使用口罩来预防感染在世界许多国家很流行，最明显的是在中国目前的新型冠状病毒爆发期间。口罩也可以在严重空气污染时使用。
但是，病毒学家对使用口罩來防止空气传播性病毒的有效性持怀疑态度。
但同时有证据表明，口罩可以帮助防止手触摸口部造成的疾病传播。
外科口罩在18世纪后期首次引入医院，但直到1919年西班牙流感爆发，导致超过5000万人死亡之后，才面向公众使用。
伦敦大学圣乔治分校的大卫·卡林顿博士告诉BBC新闻，"为公众提供常规手术口罩不能有效预防空气中携带的病毒或细菌"，因为"大多数病毒"的传播方式是空气传染，而这些口罩比较松散，没有空气过滤器，另外眼睛也暴露在外。
但它们可以帮助降低通过打喷嚏或咳嗽的"飞溅"感染病毒的风险，并提供一些防止手对口传播的保护。
2016年来自英国新南威尔士州的一项研究显示，人们每小时触摸脸部约23次。
英国诺丁汉大学分子病毒学教授乔纳森·鲍尔说：“在医院环境中进行的一项控制良好的研究中，口罩与特制呼吸器一样，在预防流感感染方面同样有效。”
呼吸器通常采用专门的空气过滤器，专门设计用于防止空气中具有潜在危险的颗粒。
鲍尔教授补充说道：“然而，当你转向研究口罩在一般人群中的使用有效性时，数据就不那么令人信服，长时间戴着口罩对于任何人都是一项相当大的挑战。”
英国贝尔法斯特女王大学威康-沃尔夫森实验医学研究所的康纳·班福德博士说："实施简单的卫生措施" 要比戴口罩要有效得多。
"打喷嚏时捂住嘴，洗手，在洗手前不把手放到嘴上，都有助于限制感染任何呼吸道病毒的风险，"他说。
英国国民保健署说，避免感染流感等病毒的最好方法是：
用温水和肥皂经常洗手
尽可能避免触摸眼睛和鼻子
保持健康的生活方式
英国公共卫生部新兴感染和人畜共患症的负责人贾克-单宁博士说：“虽然有一种看法认为戴口罩可能是有益的，但实际上几乎没有证据表明，这些口罩的广泛应用是有益的。除了在医院临床环境下之外。”
他说，如果想让口罩工作正常，口罩必须要正确佩戴，经常更换，并且安全的丢弃。
"研究还表明，长时间戴口罩时，遵守这些推荐的使用方法会减少口罩的过长佩戴。"他补充说。
单宁博士说，如果人们真的担心病毒感染，最好的方法是把注意力集中在良好的个人卫生， 特别是手部卫生上。
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截至二零二零年一月二十七日， 澳大利亚新州和维州政府都不建议在医疗机构之外的公共场所佩戴口罩：
新州政府中文宣传文件：
全文阅读：https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/alerts/Documents/corona-virus-faq-sc.pdf
维州政府中文宣传文件：
全文阅读：https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/202001/F100171%20Simplified.Chinese_2019-nCoV%20-%20FAQ%20for%20the%20Victorian%20Public260120.docx
BBC News: Can wearing masks stop the spread of viruses?
Using them to prevent infection is popular in many countries around the world, most notably China during the current coronavirus outbreak where they are also worn to protect against high pollution levels.
Virologists are sceptical about their effectiveness against airborne viruses.
But there is some evidence to suggest the masks can help prevent hand-to-mouth transmissions.
Surgical masks were first introduced into hospitals in the late 18th Century but they did not make the transition into public use until the Spanish flu outbreak in 1919 that went on to kill over 50 million people.
Dr David Carrington, of St George's, University of London, told BBC News "routine surgical masks for the public are not an effective protection against viruses or bacteria carried in the air", which was how "most viruses" were transmitted, because they were too loose, had no air filter and left the eyes exposed.
But they could help lower the risk of contracting a virus through the "splash" from a sneeze or a cough and provide some protection against hand-to-mouth transmissions.
A 2016 study from New South Wales suggested people touched their faces about 23 times an hour.
Jonathan Ball, professor of molecular virology at the University of Nottingham, said: "In one well controlled study in a hospital setting, the face mask was as good at preventing influenza infection as a purpose-made respirator."
Respirators, which tend to feature a specialised air filter, are specifically designed to protect against potentially hazardous airborne particles.
"However, when you move to studies looking at their effectiveness in the general population, the data is less compelling - it's quite a challenge to keep a mask on for prolonged periods of time," Prof Ball added.
Dr Connor Bamford, of the Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, at Queen's University Belfast, said "implementing simple hygiene measures" was vastly more effective.
"Covering your mouth while sneezing, washing your hands, and not putting your hands to your mouth before washing them, could help limit the risk of catching any respiratory virus," he said.
The NHS says the best way to avoid catching viruses such as flu is to:
regularly wash your hands with warm water and soap
avoid touching your eyes and nose wherever possible
maintain a fit and healthy lifestyle
Dr Jake Dunning, head of emerging infections and zoonoses at Public Health England, said: "Although there is a perception that the wearing of facemasks may be beneficial, there is in fact very little evidence of widespread benefit from their use outside of these clinical setting."
He said masks had to be worn correctly, changed frequently and got rid of safely if they were to work properly.
"Research also shows that compliance with these recommended behaviours reduces over time when wearing facemasks for prolonged periods," he added.
People would be better to focus on good personal and hand hygiene if they are concerned, Dr Dunning said.
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