Some Capital Region pharmacies say they’ve seen an increase in the number of people buying masks, hand sanitizers and Tamiflu in the wake of the swine flu outbreak. “We’ve had a few people asking for those things, but it’s not a massive panic as of yet,” says Sadie Madere, a pharmacy technician at the CVS on Jefferson Highway. At the Rite Aid on Airline Highway in Gonzales, Donna Bergeon, a pharmacist, says masks that cover the mouth and nose have sold out. “This started over the weekend,” she says.
Steve Yellott, a pharmacist at the Bolton Health Mart on Perkins Road, says while he’s sold several boxes of masks, most of the swine flu-related activity at his store has been sales of the prescription medicine Tamiflu. “That’s mostly going to people who are traveling, or for the elderly or people with problems to their immune system,” Yellott says. Ironically, health experts say wearing a mask isn’t as effective as common sense precautions, such as covering coughs and sneezes and frequent handwashing. For questions and answers about swine flu, click here.—Timothy Boone
