Healthcare workers treating Ebola victims are at a great danger of contracting the disease, as recent events in western Africa have shown. Currently available protective suits tend to require complicated procedures when putting on and taking off, are difficult to breathe in, and obscure the clinician’s face. A team at Johns Hopkins has developed, and just won a grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to further perfect, a new protective suit for use when treating highly infectious patients.
The most noticeable feature is probably the large clear plastic shield that stretches around the face, providing a wide viewing area and allowing for a more natural interaction with patients. A vent is built into the hood to allow dry air to come in, fogging and difficulty breathing being a serious problem when wearing conventional suits for long periods.
The JHU video below demonstrates the various features of the suit, including the novel unzipping and removal process:
JHU: Improved Suit for Ebola Caregivers Selected for Funding in Federal Competition…