# 3544
Last weekend I blogged on a reported shortage of thermometers at druggists in the UK (see A Cautionary Tale From The UK) and on Friday, about the growing shortage of alcohol based hand sanitizer in the New Zealand (see `Exceptional Demand’ For Hand Sanitizers In NZ).
Both articles appeared to describe spot, localized shortages of the sorts of supplies people would want in order to deal with influenza in the home.
In both cases, I strongly suggested that people in areas yet to be hit hard by the flu obtain those things now, while supplies are ample.
But please . . . buy no more than you and your family will need.
Not only will it assure your having necessary items when you really need them, by purchasing them now while resupply is easy, you remove some of the burden from the supply chain this fall, when demands will be greatest.
Now, via CNN, we get a long and detailed report of more shortages showing up in UK pharmacies. Not just thermometers, and hand gel, but face masks as well.
First the article (follow the link to read in its entirety), then a brief discussion (including debunking a claim in this story).
A big hat tip goes to Indigo Girl on the Allnurses pandemic forum for posting this link.
Swine flu fears prompt run on UK pharmacies
- Story Highlights
- English pharmacies report shortages of surgical masks, hand gels, themometers
- Swine flu cases surge in England; 100,000 new cases in latest weekly figures
- Government has set up helpline for those who fear they have become infected
- One pharmacist reports doling out Tamiflu to 70 to 80 people a day
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Pharmacies in England are reporting a run on supplies like surgical masks, thermometers and anti-bacterial gels by customers concerned about swine flu amid a surge in the number of people infected by the virus.
In some cases, drug stores in England say they are out of the items and may not get more in for weeks or months.
<snip>
"One of the manufacturers, he said the next thermometers they will have is in October, so now there is no chance to get them from this particular supplier," she told CNN.
The supplier is also out of stock of three different types of anti-bacterial gel, she said, even though the gel is ineffective against viruses.
Central Pharmacy in Ashington, in northern England, is also out of thermometers, pharmacist Nadeem Shah told CNN. He said he believes most shops and pharmacies in the area are also out.
"There's no thermometers at all, which is worrying because it's just a sign that it's going to impact on other supplies as well linked to people generally not feeling well -- in particular paracetamol (acetaminophen), ibuprofen, and other medications," Shah said.
The pharmacy was out of stock of anti-bacterial gels last month, but manufacturers are making more so it's back on the shelf, he said. However, it's being sold for nearly double the price, he said.
The remarkable thing about these shortages is not that they are happening . . .but that they are happening this early in a pandemic, and during the summer.
Since they don’t specify the type of antibacterial gel, it is difficult to dispute the statement that they don’t kill viruses. But Alcohol based hand gels (60% alcohol or greater) DO KILL FLU VIRUSES.
Vincent Racaniello’s excellent Virology Blog recently covered the subject in Hand hygiene removes influenza virus.
While it may not seem a huge priority today when you and your family are well, the sun is shining, and at least another month of summer remains . . . we will probably start seeing a surge of flu here in the US in September when schools let in.
Picking up a bottle of acetaminophen or ibuprofen (no aspirin for teenagers or children with a virus, please!), a box of face masks, and a few bottles of hand sanitizer can be done today for about $10 at a discount store.
If you need a thermometer, you may have to add another $3 or $4.
That’s what we’re really talking about. Nothing extraordinary.
Yet come this October or November, when the store shelves are bare, and your spouse or kids are running a fever and coughing their heads off, it may be a genuine blessing if you aren’t forced to run out and search through store after store for these items.
Simple preparedness. It doesn’t have to cost much. But if you have it, when you need it.
It’s priceless.
