In 2014, during the Ebola outbreak that affected several West African countries, journalists and medical personnel faced significant challenges related to protective equipment. Reporter Sheri Fink traveled to Liberia to cover the epidemic and prepared by purchasing protective gear and training with experts from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at the Center for Domestic Preparedness in Anniston, Alabama. The training emphasized strict protocols for donning and doffing the equipment to minimize the risk of self-contamination.

The protective suits available at the time were originally designed for industrial environments such as chemical manufacturing and pharmaceutical production rather than for infectious disease settings. Upon arriving at treatment centers in Liberia, it became apparent that while the suits provided necessary barriers against the virus—which is transmitted through contact—they were difficult to wear in the region’s intense heat and humidity. Medical staff had to limit their exposure time to patients to prevent dehydration and exhaustion, since long shifts in the suits could lead to medical emergencies on contaminated floors.

One doctor recounting the experience described the physical toll, highlighting moments after shifts when he would pour out nearly a liter of sweat from his boots. The incident underscored the urgency for developing specialized protective equipment tailored specifically to infectious disease outbreaks, particularly those occurring in tropical climates.

Six years later, as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded globally, similar concerns about the adequacy and comfort of personal protective equipment (PPE) remained. Despite advancements in some areas, frontline workers continued to face challenges related to extended PPE use under physically taxing conditions. The experience from the Ebola outbreak emphasized the ongoing need for improved designs that balance protection, comfort, and practicality for health care workers responding to infectious diseases.