Strong NZ demand for bird flu masks and drugs

One of the country's largest on-line pharmacies says demand has soared in New Zealand for bird flu medication and face masks.

The bird flu has killed thousands of birds and dozens of people in Asia and authorities are worried it will spread around the world and potentially kill millions of people.

The disease has also been found in Romania, Turkey and Greece.

Authorities fear the H5N1 strain of the flu could mutate into a form that can be passed among people, leading to a flu pandemic.

In New Zealand demand had soared for medication, respirator masks and information aimed at helping New Zealanders cope with a possible pandemic.

Pharmacy Direct said it had been inundated with emails and telephone calls recently.

The company said it had sold out of the medication Tamiflu, and was unlikely to get more stocks before the end of November.

Respirator masks were also in extremely short supply, said Pharmacy Direct managing director Greg Macpherson.

He said it was important not to be alarmist but it was also important to be prepared.

The company had developed a bird flu resource kit including respirator masks, tissues and gloves, pharmacy medicines and multi-vitamins.

- NZPA