PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA: Many pharmacies throughout the country are stocking up on masks and influenza medication in preparation for a rush with the global swine flu situation taking a turn for the worse.
A Boon Pharmacy spokesperson in Penang Road said they had ordered four times as many masks and thermometers than usual as they were expecting a surge in demand, adding that these items were usually "not that much in demand" usually.
"Our suppliers have also told us that they have received a lot of enquiries about these masks from other pharmacies."
Axis Pharmacy director Joyce Lum, 34, said she noticed more customers buying the masks over the last two days.
"I asked some of them if they were worried about the swine flu and most said they bought them as they were travelling overseas.
"We are also stocking up on oseltamivir-based Tamiflu, an antiviral drug used for flu treatment. The situation is still under control here but should there be a demand, we will be ready," she said.
Sunshine Wholesale Mart advertising and promotion manager Peter Chan said they were monitoring the condition and were well-prepared to handle it.
"Our pharmacy has a ready supply of masks but we are not stocking them up at the moment for we do not want to create any unnecessary fear.
"We have come across the bird flu and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak so we know how to prepare for such situations. We are, however, ready to supply the masks should the need arise," he said.
Pharmacies in Kota Kinabalu are also seeing an increase in interest for masks.
"It is not panic but we have seen more customers looking for masks," Sunlight Pharmacy managing director Jack Sia said, adding that he believed that people just wanted to be prepared for any eventuality. Meanwhile, a thermal scanner to screen passengers will be installed at Kota Kinabalu international airport by next week although screening is currently being done manually as a precautionary measure to check travellers.
