Apr 30, 2009 6:00 pm US/Eastern
H1N1 Outbreak Causes Rise In Medical Supply Sales
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
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An H1N1 strain of the swine flu virus, viewed through a microscope.
Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP/Getty Images
Anti-flu weapons get their own table at the Gladwyne Pharmacy in Montgomery County.
A growing number of customers are buying items like masks and sanitizers to protect themselves.
"People would ask for it, and it just makes it a lot easier when everything people might need is on one table," said Burt Zaslow, Gladwyne Pharmacy's co-owner.
Experts say washing hands and avoiding sick people are the best ways to prevent flu. These supplies might give a little extra layer of protection.
"That's what we should buy," said Irma Tkhelieze, holding up a small bottle of hand sanitizer she had in her purse.
But a few places have run out of some of the more popular flu prevention supplies.
Kelly Ditsche of Northeast Philadelphia told us, "I went to Rite Aid today to buy hand sanitizer, and they don't have any left."
There'a also increased demand for prescriptions of Relenza and Tamiflu, the antivirals that are only supposed to be given to people who are already sick.
Pharmacist Benna Millrood of Gladwyne Pharmacy said, "It's not preventative at all. If you take it, it doesn't assure that you will not get the swine flu or any type of flu."
So many people are asking for prescriptions for Tamiflu and Relenza, some pharmacies in our area have run out.
But there's no reason to worry supplies will run out entirely.
"No, the government has backup stockpiles of both items, and if it becomes necessary, they will release them as people have requirements for them," said Zazlow.
The government says it's shipping to states enough antiviral medication to treat 11 million people as a precaution.
All states should get their share by May 3.
Again, the best defense is hand washing.
Now it may sound silly, but there are right ways and wrong ways to wash your hands.
For the best ways,
Click Here
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