Posted on 03/01/2006 2:33:59 PM PST by joinedafterattack
Demand for the disposable masks grows as avian flu threat continues to creep westward. The N95 masks are considered one of the first lines of defense in protecting health-care workers from airborne viruses such as SARS and tuberculosis. As avian flu continues to march westward, 3M Co. and other manufacturers of disposable respirator masks that could help contain an outbreak of the disease are racing to keep ahead of demand. Maplewood-based 3M is running at full capacity to fill orders for its N95 masks, but some customers complain that they can't get their orders fast enough.
Gwilym McGrew, CEO of the online medical supply business AllHeart.com, said he's been waiting since October for 3M to fill several orders worth a combined $65,000.
3M "cannot give us a time frame," he said. "We have many, many hundreds of thousands of customers and they are all doctors and nurses and allied health professionals. They are writing us, saying, 'When are you going to ship these masks? Why can't we get them?' " McGrew said early last week.
McGrew said he received more masks Thursday but still is waiting for 25 percent of his order.
The N95 masks are considered one of the first lines of defense in protecting health-care workers from airborne viruses such as SARS and tuberculosis. Many doctors believe a combination of N95s, which typically cost hospitals 50 cents to $1 each, and protective eyewear also offer the best protection against avian flu.
"We know [3M] can't do that all at once, so we asked them if they could get us the masks over the next 10 months," Bennett said.
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
Gwilym McGrew, CEO of the online medical supply business AllHeart.com, said he's been waiting since October for 3M to fill several orders worth a combined $65,000.
3M "cannot give us a time frame," he said. "We have many, many hundreds of thousands of customers and they are all doctors and nurses and allied health professionals. They are writing us, saying, 'When are you going to ship these masks? Why can't we get them?' " McGrew said early last week.
McGrew said he received more masks Thursday but still is waiting for 25 percent of his order.
The N95 masks are considered one of the first lines of defense in protecting health-care workers from airborne viruses such as SARS and tuberculosis. Many doctors believe a combination of N95s, which typically cost hospitals 50 cents to $1 each, and protective eyewear also offer the best protection against avian flu.
[SNIP] 3M ramps up.
Last month, 3M CEO George Buckley and Chief Financial Officer Pat Campbell acknowledged problems in meeting the demand for its disposable respirator masks.
"We have a number of supply chains who are starting to reach capacity and at some point it is starting to hurt us from a customer service perspective," Campbell told analysts. "With personal protection respirator systems and so forth, we are at capacity there. We have to put some more capacity in there, so we will be investing more capital during 2006 to alleviate some of those bottlenecks."
[SNIP]
"We have been running 24/7 for some time and have added new manufacturing lines in the plant," she said.
[SNIP]
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is "stockpiling the disposable masks," spokeswoman Nicole Coffin said.
[SNIP]
"We know [3M] can't do that all at once, so we asked them if they could get us the masks over the next 10 months," Bennett said.
I wonder what sort of boost our economy is going to get from all this preparation? Just curious -
I do believe that avian flue could be somewhat of a threat, I just don't understand the massive reaction. I just can't help but wonder how much of the hysteria is intentionally generated to garner contracts and funds...
I bought mine months ago :) heh
Did you buy them locally or on-line?
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