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!