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Impact of Hurricane Helene on Medical Supply Chains
The devastating effects of Hurricane Helene have raised concerns about potential disruptions in the medical supply chain across the United States, particularly affecting essential intravenous (IV) fluids.
Threat to IV Fluid Availability
Healthcare facilities throughout the nation are preparing for a possible shortage of critical IV fluids following extensive flooding that impacted a key manufacturing site in North Carolina.
Details on the Affected Facility
The facility in question is Baxter International’s North Cove manufacturing plant located in Marion, approximately 35 miles northeast of Asheville. The storm brought unprecedented rainfall to western North Carolina, resulting in significant loss of life and widespread destruction across various communities, including damage to this crucial production site.
This situation underscores the vulnerability of healthcare infrastructure during natural disasters and highlights the need for robust contingency plans within medical supply chains.
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