Unfortunately, Ebola is once again a topic in the media. The World Health Organization (WHO) has published a leaflet on the infection, prevention and containment of Ebola. People involved in the fight against the Ebola virus and the treatment of patients are advised to wear personal protective equipment. See: WHO Infection prevention and control (IPC) Guidance Summary
Performance criteria for protection against the Ebola virus
However, there are currently no national or international regulations that establish specific performance criteria for protective clothing for use in conjunction with the Ebola virus. However, the guide recommends wearing the following protective equipment:
- Liquid-resistant respiratory protection
- Protective clothing
- Liquid-tight protective gloves
- Liquid-proof shoes or boots
- Eye and face protection
Protective equipment to protect against the Ebola virus
When selecting protective equipment in an Ebola-prone environment, the site-specific conditions must always be taken into account, e.g.
- Is there potential contact with infectious fluids?
- Is there contact with carriers of the infection?
- What are the working and environmental conditions like?
- What is the activity?
- Are decontamination facilities in place?
Proper use of protective equipment
Proper use of personal protective equipment can prevent infectious material from coming into contact with the mouth, nose, eyes, mucous membranes and skin injuries. Since, according to previous experience, the virus is transmitted through direct contact (and not through the air, similar to flu), the protective equipment must reliably prevent any direct contact with body fluids of the person to be protected. This means, for example, that the eye area must be covered by liquid-tight protective goggles without ventilation, which blocks one of the most important (sometimes underestimated) transmission routes, namely via the eyes. Furthermore, for example, the correct donning and doffing of protective equipment, especially the protective suit, is of crucial, vital importance to protect against contamination.
The manufacturer's instructions must be followed carefully.