Laboratory
To work in a Biosafety Level 4 lab, specialized
protective equipment and procedures are required to prevent contact with
the deadly viruses. This is the Biosafety Level 4 suit worn by
scientists who work in the lab. In Level 4 labs, they work with deadly
viruses like Ebola, hantavirus, and Rift Valley Fever. From the CDC
homepage, you can click on Health
Topics A-Z to learn more about these viruses, as well as many
others, studied at CDC.
The suit is made of very thick, flexible plastic that won’t tear or rip, and it is very heavy – with the air hose and regulator attached, it weighs almost 20lbs! Think you could handle that? Well, if you come tour the Global Health Odyssey Museum, you'll have the chance to try on a real Level 4 suit!
When exiting a Level 4 lab, scientists must stand under a chemical
spray (like a shower) for several minutes. That way, they can be sure
that their suit is properly decontaminated – they don’t want anything
coming out of the lab with them!