Health Alert: Imported KN95 Masks
Illinois Rural Water Association has just received a memo from the State of Illinois Department of Public Heath regarding KN95 masks.
An increasing number of imported respirators from China have received an emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Illinois Department of Public Health is aware of at least two instances of vendors offering for sale counterfeit versions of such respirators.
Some bullet points of this memo are:
•KN95 masks from China may not meet performance standards
• Counterfeit KN95 masks are reportedly flooding the marketplace
• Illinois has distributed KN95 masks throughout the state.
IDPH recommends the following to partner agencies who have received personal protective equipment from the State of Illinois:
1. Discontinue using any KN95 respirators for procedures that require the use of an N95 or similar respirator
unless their authenticity and performance through fit testing) can be verified.
2. Stop distributing any KN95s that have not been added to Appendix A of FDA’s emergency use authorization.
3. Remove from service any KN95s that have already been received.
4. Do not use KN95s whose performance cannot be verified through successful fit testing.
The memo also includes pictures of the masks in question.
The full memo as well as the links referenced in the memo can be accessed from the sidebar on this page.
