# 2281
At least in Japan, where 40,000 of these protective suits have been ordered for use by HCWs (Health Care Workers) during a pandemic.
Notice the head to foot covering, including gloves, respirator, and goggles. This is exactly the kind of protection any HCW would want when dealing face-to-face with a highly infectious patient.
Unfortunately, very few are likely to have it.
And even those lucky enough to receive such PPEs (Personal Protective Equipment) are likely to find that the supplies will run out very early on.
And resupply during a pandemic could be, as they say, `problematic'.
Japan is currently considering inoculating 1.5 million HCWs with an experimental prepandemic vaccine, which gives us some idea of the number of HCWs who they expect to have contact with infected patients.
Suddenly 40,000 phylactic suits doesn't sound like a lot.
Of course that's 40,000 more than a lot of countries will have.
This from UKMedix News.
Bird Flu Suits To Be Worn By Hospital Staff
Written by Rupert Kircz | Thursday, 04 September 2008
The Japanese government as well as stocking the Tamiflu drug to prepare for an outbreak of the bird flu virus has also put out tenders for the purchase of special all in one protective suits for health workers dealing with infected patients. In all 40,000 of the phylactic suits will be made available.
The suits will completely cover doctors and nurses and prevent them from contracting the flu virus as they administer medicines and look at patients. These protective suits will also incorporate special respirators that will filter out any of the deadly bird flu viruses.
As well as this the Japanese government has also made an order for special baby cots that will look like little incubators and effectively put young children who have contracted the H5N1 into quarantine.
Many governments are realising that it isn’t enough to simply pile up influenza drugs like Tamiflu and Relenza but they must start to take other precautions if they want to be successful in reducing the amount of people who die from the pandemic when it breaks out.
