# 3877
Something today that we discussed back in July (see `Exceptional Demand’ For Hand Sanitizers In NZ and A Cautionary Tale From The UK), where the UK and the Southern Hemisphere saw shortages of `flu supplies’ such as hand sanitizer and thermometers.
This from CNN.
Hand sanitizer in short supply as swine flu hits
Makers of the antiseptic rush to increase production amid fears of a swine flu pandemic.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Demand for hand sanitizer has gone through the roof since the first cases of swine flu broke out earlier this year, and some makers of the germ-fighting gels are scrambling to keep up.
Market research firm Panjiva recently estimated that 3 million kilograms of hand sanitizer were shipped in the third quarter, compared with 1 million kilograms in the same quarter last year.
Josh Green, chief executive of Panjiva, said concern about the H1N1 virus, also known as the swine flu, is the "most likely explanation" for the surge in volume.
And demand is only expected to rise given the outlook for an exceptionally bad flu season.
In response, the companies that make and distribute Purell, the most popular name-brand hand sanitizer, are ramping up production and urging customers to not hoard the product.
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