The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that Ebola cases in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea have risen to more than 20,000 since March 2014. In response, workers from international agencies such as Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders have been deployed to West Africa with personal protective equipment (PPE) kits to support responses in affected countries.
Personal protective equipment is designed to protect the wearer from exposure to hazardous substances, dangerous environments, or biohazards, including biological materials that can spread the Ebola virus disease (EVD). Several types of personal protective equipment are available, each having specific uses and advantages for different situations. Workers need to consider if the PPE provides an effective barrier, is durable, and safe to use. In addition, other issues such as ease of donning, comfort while wearing it, and other factors should be considered when choosing appropriate personal protective equipment for a response.
Some people have been criticized for wearing the wrong PPE while working on farms or other agricultural settings. Here is a list of what you should be using when it comes to your safety:
PPE is any clothing, garment, or other items that protect an individual by either providing a barrier between their skin and the external environment, such as gloves; protecting against contact with harmful chemicals via the use of gloves, goggles, and other garments; or reducing the risk of infection.