With swine flu spreading panic in the state, face masks are flying off the shelves at pharmacies in all major cities.

Sources said the distributors have sold hundreds of masks in the last two days, which is higher than their annual sales. But the increasing number of cases in the state has resulted in a huge gap in demand and supply. So, in order to meet in the shortage and make available specialised masks for protection from H1N1 virus, the Gujarat chapter of the All India Organisation of Chemists & Druggists has decided to manufacture masks in the state itself. At a meeting on Wednesday, three mask manufacturing companies said about three to four lakh masks are required to make them available at each and every chemist shop in the state. Representatives at the meeting said they also want to make an economical version of N95 masks, so that everyone can afford them.

“The objective to manufacture the masks here is to ensure prompt supply. The supply from most of the companies outside the state has dried down. The masks are not available as most of them have been diverted to Pune, which is the worst hit. In Gujarat, even if masks are available, they are being sold at a higher rate,” said Jasvant Patel, president AIOCD, Gujarat.

The N95 masks are supposed to filter at least 95 percent of all particulates that are 3 microns or larger and screen particles expelled by sneeze or cough. The prices of N95 mask vary between Rs 100 and Rs 200. “Since the masks are not readily available, prices have increased further. Continued on

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