October 2, 2024- The already fragile medical supply chain is facing more stress this week, after Hurricane Helene ravaged a huge Baxter International plant in North Carolina that makes IV fluids for many U.S. hospitals, according to Axios.
Why it matters: The damage has not yet been totaled up, and Baxter says it’s lining up backup plants and making other contingencies, the closure of the flooded facility threatens to upend such basics as intravenous dialysis care and complicate the federal disaster response.
Driving the news: Baxter’s North Cove manufacturing site in Marion, North Carolina, is located in one of the areas hardest hit by the storm. It primarily makes intravenous and peritoneal dialysis solutions.
“We are committed to helping ensure reliable supply of products to patients,” Joe Almeida, CEO at Baxter, said in a statement, according to Axios. “Remediation efforts are already underway, and we will spare no resource — human or financial — to resume production.”
“The heavy rain and storm surge triggered a levee breach, which led to water permeating the site,” Baxter said, adding that bridges accessing the site were damaged. A spokesperson confirmed to Axios no one was injured in the 1.4 million-square-foot facility, which employs about 2,500 people, but that damage assessments are ongoing.