Many businesses are suffering during the global recession, but there is one industry that is booming: the hand sanitization business.
With the swine flu pandemic, sales of hand sanitizer are increasing.
Steris Corp., the largest U.S. maker of sterilization products for hospitals, said its orders for hand sanitizers may almost triple in the coming months if a new outbreak of swine flu sweeps the U.S.
Orders so far this month have risen 15 percent, and Steris is building up inventory in preparation for another outbreak, Timothy Chapman, 47, senior vice president of health care, said in a Sept. 11 telephone interview. Hand-sanitizer orders may climb 150 percent to 180 percent in the next months, he said.
"Since the middle of August we have seen a significant order run-up for these products," Chapman said. Health-care workers wash their hands probably 50 to 60 times a day, he said.
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Dentists, law offices, schools and community organizations are contacting Steris daily because their regular providers are already out of hand sanitizers and similar products, he said.
Steris is working with suppliers to meet expected demand, he said. Shortages could come from a lack of bottles, labels and caps, he said.
Sales of hand sanitizers, masks and gloves have been brisk and demand is only expected to increase as the flu season gets underway.
