Ebola: Welche Schutzkleidung schützt vor dem Virus?
Current Ebola outbreaks show that: protection begins long before contact with patients
Ebola is one of the most dangerous known viral infections. Although outbreaks are usually confined to specific regions, recent cases in Africa regularly attract international attention. For medical staff, emergency services and aid workers, this raises a key question: how can infection be effectively prevented?
As the Ebola virus is transmitted primarily through direct contact with infectious bodily fluids, personal protective equipment (PPE) plays a crucial role. Protective suits, gloves, respiratory protection and face shields together form a barrier between people and the pathogen. However, not all protective clothing is suitable for high-risk biological hazards. The key factors are the correct selection of PPE, suitable materials and the professional handling of the equipment.
What is Ebola?
Ebola is a rare but extremely serious viral infection caused by viruses of the genus Ebolavirus. The disease often begins with non-specific symptoms such as fever, headaches, muscle aches, a feeling of weakness or a sore throat. As the disease progresses, diarrhoea, vomiting, organ failure and, in severe cases, internal bleeding may occur.
The virus is transmitted mainly through direct contact with infectious bodily fluids such as blood, vomit or other secretions from infected individuals. It is precisely these routes of transmission that make Ebola a particular challenge for medical staff, emergency services and aid workers in affected regions.
Despite relatively rare outbreaks, such as the one currently occurring in the Congo, Ebola is regarded worldwide as one of the most dangerous viral infections. Depending on the virus strain, the level of medical care available and the speed at which containment measures are implemented, mortality rates can be high. Effective protective measures are therefore crucial for anyone who may come into contact with infected patients or contaminated material.
How is Ebola transmitted?
Contrary to popular belief, Ebola is not primarily transmitted through the air. The greatest risk comes from direct contact with infectious bodily fluids.
These include, amongst others:
- Blood
- Vomit
- Urine
- Faeces
- Saliva
- Sweat
- Other bodily secretions
Contaminated surfaces, medical instruments or protective clothing can also be sources of infection.
Comprehensive protective measures must therefore be taken, particularly when caring for patients or handling contaminated material.
Can Ebola be transmitted through the air?
According to current scientific knowledge, the Ebola virus is transmitted mainly through direct contact with infectious bodily fluids. Classic airborne transmission, such as that seen with measles, is not considered a typical route of transmission based on current understanding.
Nevertheless, aerosols or droplets may be generated during certain activities. For this reason, respiratory masks and face shields are used alongside protective suits during Ebola response operations.
Why is Ebola relevant to health and safety at work?
Ebola highlights particularly clearly the importance of personal protective equipment when dealing with biological hazards. Whilst many workplace accidents are visible and immediately recognisable, pathogens often pose an invisible danger.
The following factors make Ebola particularly relevant from an occupational health and safety perspective:
- Transmission through direct contact with infectious bodily fluids
- High risk potential for medical staff, emergency services personnel and aid workers
- High standards required for protective suits, gloves, respiratory protection and face protection
- Increased risk of self-contamination when putting on and taking off PPE
- Key lessons from international Ebola outbreaks for managing biological hazards
The experience gained from past and current Ebola outbreaks has played a key role in further developing protection strategies for high-risk biological hazards and improving standards for personal protective equipment.
What protective clothing is used for Ebola?
In the case of high biological risks, protection against infectious fluids is the main priority. Protective suits must prevent contaminated fluids or aerosols from coming into contact with the skin or underlying clothing.
Type 3B protective suits are particularly relevant.
Type 3B protective suits
In the case of Ebola, the focus is on protection against infectious body fluids. For this reason, Type 3B protective suits are frequently used for activities involving a high risk of exposure.
Type 3B protective suits offer protection against pressurised jets of liquid. They are used when there is a possibility of intense contact with contaminated fluids.
Typical features include:
- liquid-tight materials
- sealed zip covers
- taped or welded seams
- integrated hoods
- sealed connections to gloves and footwear
What does the ‘B’ stand for?
The ‘B’ marking stands for biological hazards. It indicates that the protective clothing has also been tested for use against biological risks.
Which materials are suitable for Ebola protective suits?
In the case of high biological risks, simple protective clothing is not sufficient. The materials must provide a reliable barrier against liquids and infectious agents.
Typical requirements include:
- low fluid permeability
- high barrier performance against contaminated fluids
- resistance to blood and bodily fluids
- high tear resistance
- secure bonding of the material and seams
Multi-layered composite materials or special microporous protective materials are often used; these repel fluids whilst ensuring the garment is as comfortable as possible to wear.
Wearing comfort plays an important role in heat management. Protective suits for high biological risks must provide the highest possible barrier against liquids and infectious agents, whilst at the same time being wearable for long enough to allow safe work procedures.
Another crucial factor is the seams. Even high-quality materials lose their protective effect if liquids can penetrate through unprotected seam areas. For this reason, protective suits for high biological risks often feature glued or heat-sealed seams.
EN 14126: The most important standard for protective clothing against infectious agents
When it comes to biological hazards, the European standard EN 14126 plays a key role.
It sets out requirements and test methods for protective clothing against infectious agents and complements the traditional types of protective suits.
Among other things, the following are tested for resistance to:
- contaminated liquids
- blood
- biological aerosols
- virus-containing liquids
Test methods such as the following are particularly relevant:
- ISO 16603 (resistance to penetration by synthetic blood)
- ISO 16604 (resistance to penetration by virus-containing liquids)
- ISO 22610 (Resistance to bacterial wet contamination)
- ISO 22611 (Protection against biologically contaminated aerosols)
- ISO 22612 (Protection against biologically contaminated particles)
This additional testing is of particular importance in the case of diseases such as Ebola, as it is necessary to take into account not only chemical or mechanical hazards, but also highly infectious biological pathogens.
Secure Seams: Why Details Determine Protective Effectiveness
When dealing with high biological risks, it is not just the material of the protective suit that matters. Particularly sensitive areas are the seams between the protective suit, gloves, respiratory protection and other PPE.
Even small gaps or loose seams can compromise protective effectiveness. This is why additional seals are often used in high-risk areas.
Specialised chemical-resistant and PPE adhesive tapes, such as Chem-Tape, can, for example, be used to further secure junctions between gloves and sleeve cuffs or to seal zip areas. This helps to reduce potential weak points in the protective system and maintain the integrity of the protective clothing during use.
Why enormous quantities of protective clothing are required during an Ebola outbreak
The need for protective clothing during Ebola outbreaks is often underestimated. In treatment centres, protective suits often have to be changed after only a short period of use. The reasons for this include the risk of contamination, strict safety protocols and the high physical strain caused by the protective clothing.
According to medical crisis management data, up to 75 disposable protective suits are required per day to care for a single Ebola patient. With a treatment period of 40 days, the requirement can rise to around 3,000 protective suits per patient. Added to this are respirators, gloves, head covers, shoe covers and other PPE components.
A key reason for this high consumption is the short duration of shifts spent wearing full protective gear. Due to the liquid-tight materials, the high physical strain and the restricted heat dissipation, protective suits can only be worn for a limited time. Reports from special isolation wards describe working in protective clothing as extremely physically demanding. Shifts are therefore often limited to just a few hours.
These figures highlight the importance of personal protective equipment in high-risk biological situations. Even minor supply shortages can make the work of medical facilities considerably more difficult.
Heat stress: the often underestimated danger
The greater the protective effect of a protective suit, the more it often restricts the body’s natural heat dissipation.
Particularly in tropical regions, where Ebola outbreaks frequently occur, this can lead to considerable strain.
Possible consequences include:
- increased heart rate
- fluid loss
- impaired concentration
- exhaustion
- reduced operational times
For this reason, operational planning, break arrangements and fluid intake must be an integral part of any protection strategy.
Even the best protective clothing is of little use if wearers lose their ability to perform or make mistakes due to overheating.
The greatest risk often arises when removing PPE
Many people assume that the greatest danger lies in providing patient care. In fact, however, numerous risks of contamination arise when removing protective clothing.
During an operation, gloves, protective suits, safety goggles and respiratory protection may become contaminated with infectious material. If these items are removed incorrectly, pathogens can come into contact with the skin, clothing or mucous membranes.
That is why strict protocols for putting on and taking off PPE are among the most important protective measures of all.
The following have proven effective:
- standardised procedures
- regular training
- mutual supervision by trained colleagues
- consistent hand hygiene
- designated decontamination area
International experience from Ebola operations shows that training and routine are crucial factors for the safety of emergency response teams.
Protective clothing is only one part of the protection strategy
Effective protection against biological hazards always results from the combination of several measures.
These include:
- suitable protective suits
- respiratory protection
- eye and face protection
- liquid-tight protective gloves
- foot protection
- decontamination procedures
- organisational protective measures
- regular training
It is only through the combined action of all these components that effective protection against high-risk biological hazards such as Ebola is possible.
FAQ: Frequently asked questions about Ebola and protective clothing
What protective clothing offers protection against Ebola?
For activities involving potential contact with infectious body fluids, Type 3B protective suits are frequently used in combination with respiratory protection, gloves, shoe covers, and eye and face protection.
What does the ‘B’ marking on protective suits mean?
The ‘B’ indicates that the protective clothing has been additionally tested for biological hazards.
What does the EN 14126 standard test for?
The EN 14126 standard assesses the protective performance of protective clothing against infectious agents, including blood, contaminated fluids and virus-containing media.
Is a standard disposable protective suit sufficient against Ebola?
Not every disposable protective suit is suitable for high-risk biological hazards. The decisive factors are the protection class, the material properties and testing in accordance with relevant standards such as EN 14126.
Why are Type 3B protective suits used?
Type 3B protective suits protect against pressurised liquids and are therefore frequently used in high-risk biological situations where contact with infectious body fluids is possible.
Is it possible to become infected whilst removing protective clothing?
Yes. Improper removal of contaminated PPE is considered one of the most common causes of self-contamination.
What type of respirator is used for Ebola?
Depending on the risk assessment, FFP3 masks or powered air-purifying respirators are frequently used.
Conclusion: Protection against Ebola requires more than just a protective suit
Ebola places the highest demands on occupational safety and the management of biological hazards. Type 3B protective suits tested in accordance with EN 14126, suitable respiratory protection, protective gloves and shoe covers are key components of modern protection strategies against biological risks.
At the same time, experience from international Ebola response operations shows that the protective effect does not depend solely on the material. Correctly secured interfaces, safe donning and doffing procedures, regular training, and managing heat stress during long operations are also crucial.
Selecting suitable PPE for biological risks therefore requires technical expertise, practical experience and a deep understanding of the specific hazard situation.
ASATEX supports companies, institutions and organisations in selecting suitable protective clothing for biological and chemical hazards. Our PPE experts work closely with specialists in the fields of occupational health and safety and microbiology to develop practical protection concepts for demanding applications.
Do you have any questions about protective suits, standards such as EN 14126, or the selection of suitable PPE for biological risks? Our experts will be happy to advise you personally and assist you in selecting suitable protective solutions for your specific application.