Masks, disinfectants in low supply as China virus spreads

Pharmacies in Beijing and Shanghai were running low on surgical masks and disinfectants Wednesday as a deadly new SARS-like virus spread ahead of the busy Lunar New Year travel period.

More people than usual were seen wearing masks on the streets and several stores AFP visited had run out of stock -- to the dismay of customers.

The rush to step up protective measures against the new coronavirus came after it infected more than 400 people across China.

The illness, first discovered in the central city of Wuhan, is spreading just as hundreds of millions of people take to packed trains, planes and buses around the country on their way to reunions with family and friends for the festive period.

An employee at a pharmacy in Beijing told AFP it had run out of surgical masks two days ago.

"When it hit close to 300 cases, people realised it was serious," he said, adding that items such as thermometers had also been selling fast.

"It happened so suddenly; we didn't prepare any back-up and existing stock was quickly depleted." A batch of masks that arrived on Wednesday morning sold out in just half an hour, he added.

The store still had other masks in stock but these were not designed for surgical purposes.

At another pharmacy in Beijing, a sign on the door said they were also all out of the products.

"We get some stock every day, but it is not enough to fulfil demand," said a staff member who did not want to be identified.

"We have also run out of disinfectants," she said. "We are working hard to replenish stock but we don't know when it will come."
"We know how to protect ourselves and ventilate our homes. It's close to the Spring Festival too, and we have to go house-visiting. If relatives are worried, we will wear masks in their houses."