Treyfish
Moderator
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</TD></TR><TR><TD class=caption>Children use hand-washing devices at Seoul National Science Museum. [The Korea Herald]
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The H1N1 flu virus scare has sent the demand for hygienic products soaring since the nation's first death was reported on Aug. 15.
Hand sanitizers in particular are in great demand, industry watchers said, as frequent hand washing is widely known as one of the most effective precautionary measures against flu transmission.
If the current explosive demand continues, local retailers see their stockpiles running out within one or two weeks.
E-Mart, the nation's largest discount-store chain, said the sales of hand sanitizers on Aug. 24-25 were up 150 percent from the previous week and 250 percent from the same period last year.
For example, Dettol Hand Wash of the U.K. consumer goods maker Reckitt Benckiser is selling almost 5,000 bottles a day.
Even though the retailer has secured 80,000 bottles of the liquid antiseptic product, the retailer sees the stockpile selling out within a week.
<SCRIPT language=JavaScript src="/khjs/banner/article_340.js"></SCRIPT>"As the flu virus is rapidly spreading, we are struggling to secure hygienic products such as the hand washer from all around the world," said Hwang Woon-ki, a product buyer for E-Mart.
The nation's No. 2 retailer Homeplus, jointly established by Korea's Samsung and Britain's Tesco, also sees shortage of hand sanitizers as their sales from Aug. 15 to 25 surged 138 percent compared with the previous week.
"There have not yet been any problems in the amount of our stockpiles. But we know the stock of manufacturing companies has started running short," said an official from the retailer. "Considering that it takes three months for manufacturers to make new products, large retailers are likely to be affected soon."
Along with protective masks, the sales of thermometers are also increasing as many schools started conducting temperature checks on students with the new semester opening late last month.
According to drug stores and medical equipment shops in central Seoul, the sales of thermometer in the area jumped to 100 from the previous one or two a day.
The situation is the same online.
"Ten to 15 thermometers used to be sold every week. But recently 70 have been sold in the same period. Only some ear thermometers are left. There's no hand sanitizer in stock," said an owner of an online shopping mall.
There is a growing demand even for thermal cameras, which are seen in airports for detecting fevers in travelers. Despite its price ranging from 5 million ($16,116) won to 20 million won, orders are soaring mainly from large companies and public organizations where many people frequently visit. "Before the flu outbreak, 20 to 30 thermal cameras were sold in a month. But during the last two weeks alone the orders have increased to 30 to 40," said a retailer. As of Monday, the number of people infected with the virus here was 4,293, including three deaths during the last two weeks.
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:tiphat:http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2009/09/02/200909020038.asp
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
The H1N1 flu virus scare has sent the demand for hygienic products soaring since the nation's first death was reported on Aug. 15.
Hand sanitizers in particular are in great demand, industry watchers said, as frequent hand washing is widely known as one of the most effective precautionary measures against flu transmission.
If the current explosive demand continues, local retailers see their stockpiles running out within one or two weeks.
E-Mart, the nation's largest discount-store chain, said the sales of hand sanitizers on Aug. 24-25 were up 150 percent from the previous week and 250 percent from the same period last year.
For example, Dettol Hand Wash of the U.K. consumer goods maker Reckitt Benckiser is selling almost 5,000 bottles a day.
Even though the retailer has secured 80,000 bottles of the liquid antiseptic product, the retailer sees the stockpile selling out within a week.
<SCRIPT language=JavaScript src="/khjs/banner/article_340.js"></SCRIPT>"As the flu virus is rapidly spreading, we are struggling to secure hygienic products such as the hand washer from all around the world," said Hwang Woon-ki, a product buyer for E-Mart.
The nation's No. 2 retailer Homeplus, jointly established by Korea's Samsung and Britain's Tesco, also sees shortage of hand sanitizers as their sales from Aug. 15 to 25 surged 138 percent compared with the previous week.
"There have not yet been any problems in the amount of our stockpiles. But we know the stock of manufacturing companies has started running short," said an official from the retailer. "Considering that it takes three months for manufacturers to make new products, large retailers are likely to be affected soon."
Along with protective masks, the sales of thermometers are also increasing as many schools started conducting temperature checks on students with the new semester opening late last month.
According to drug stores and medical equipment shops in central Seoul, the sales of thermometer in the area jumped to 100 from the previous one or two a day.
The situation is the same online.
"Ten to 15 thermometers used to be sold every week. But recently 70 have been sold in the same period. Only some ear thermometers are left. There's no hand sanitizer in stock," said an owner of an online shopping mall.
There is a growing demand even for thermal cameras, which are seen in airports for detecting fevers in travelers. Despite its price ranging from 5 million ($16,116) won to 20 million won, orders are soaring mainly from large companies and public organizations where many people frequently visit. "Before the flu outbreak, 20 to 30 thermal cameras were sold in a month. But during the last two weeks alone the orders have increased to 30 to 40," said a retailer. As of Monday, the number of people infected with the virus here was 4,293, including three deaths during the last two weeks.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
:tiphat:http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2009/09/02/200909020038.asp