According to US News and World Report, after Hurricane Helene knocked out the Marion North Carolina production plant, and major supplier of IV fluids for US hospitals, officials said that the federal government is reaching out internationally to help restore supply.
The Baxter, North Cove plant in Marion manufactures about 60% of the nation’s supply of IV fluids. Hospitals across the United States are already postponing surgeries and rationing IV fluids as the shortage takes hold. On Wednesday the US Food and Drug Administration said that it was authorizing imports of IV products from Baxter’s plants in Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and China. Baxter had been forced to limit hospitals to 40% of its usual supplies, but in a company statement Baxter said that allocations have risen to 60% as of Wednesday of this week.
Baxter would not say when it expected its Marion plant to become fully operational again, but said it hoped to resume production and phases by the end of the year.