HOUSTON — Since Hurricane Helene made landfall in late September, along the southeastern shore, hospitals across the U.S. have had to adapt to a shortage of IV fluids. The plant that made 60 percent of the U.S. supply of IV fluids was heavily damaged by the hurricane. The company that owns the plant is Baxter International. In its latest update, the company says they have accounted for all of its 2,500+ employees that were based at the facility. Before Hurricane Helene, the North Carolina-based Baxter International facility was producing 1.5 million bags of IV fluid a day. Baxter expects the plant will not be back to full production until around the end of 2024.
THE QUESTION
Has a hurricane caused a shortage of IV fluids in the U.S. before?
THE SOURCES
Baxter International
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
American Hospital Association
American Medical Association
THE ANSWER
Yes, Hurricane Maria caused a shortage of IV fluid in 2017
WHAT WE FOUND
According to the American Medical Association podcast around 86% of healthcare providers are experiencing shortages of IV fluids. The shortage is a compound of issues triggered when Hurricane Helene severely damaged the one facility that produced 60% of all U.S. IV fluids. The company that owns the hurricane-damage facility, Baxter International is no stranger to natural disasters impacting business. In 2017, a Baxter International facility in Puerto Rico was taken offline by Hurricane Maria in 2017.
To deal with shortages stemming from that facility's damage, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) temporarily allowed IV fluids to be imported from other countries including Canada, Mexico, and countries in Europe.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tracks drug and medical device shortages throughout the country. According to the FDA, a drug or device that cannot meet the demand is in short supply. The FDA will remove products from the shortages list when demand no longer exceeds supply. According to the FDA and Baxter International, IV fluids were already coming up short before Hurricane Helene made landfall in late September 2024.
In an update provided by the U.S. Health and Human Services on October 19, the federal agency said Baxter products are getting flown into the U.S. to ensure healthcare facilities can continue to have access to IV fluids.