Ebola hazmat suits are popular Halloween costumes this year

Ebola-themed healthcare worker costumes may be making an appearance amid the sea of ghosts, goblins and ghouls this Halloween.

One website says its Ebola containment suit will be “the most viral costume of the year,” while another recommends wearing its realistic-looking hazardous materials suit and mask to a party, “to talk about the recent advances in disease control technology.” From sexy Ebola nurse scrubs to matching containment suits for the entire family, the chatter on Twitter is endless. But whether or not an Ebola-themed outfit is a timely or tacky choice has also sparked a monster etiquette debate on the social media site.

“Anyone considering a Halloween costume with an Ebola theme should be quarantined permanently. And get no candy ever,” one tweeter said. “It's tasteless. People are dying. It's not a joke,” said another in outrage.

That sentiment was shared by Peggy Post, an author and spokeswoman for the Emily Post Institute, which offers advice on social etiquette. “I'd save it for another year,” she said. “It just doesn't ring respectful at this point in time.” Halloween is about being fun, humorous and clever, but there are so many other themes to choose from, she told the Outliers team.

At least one costume retailer says it hasn't seen an uptick in hazmat costume purchases. “People love to talk about how fun that might be, but aren't actually willing to go through with it,” Courtland Hickey, general manager of Chicago Costume Co., said in an e-mail. It's not unusual to see costumes themed on news and pop culture events, he said. “But as of now, My Little Pony and Frozen are the frontrunners.”