Mask orders soar

Two Quebec companies specializing in anti-microbial face masks are scrambling to meet growing demand resulting from the spreading swine flu outbreak.

"This flu pandemic has been an accelerator for us," André Leroux, CEO and chairman of Montreal's Noveko International Inc., said yesterday.

"People are even more interested in our technology now," he said, adding that Mexican officials called the company yesterday to say they want Noveko's masks "big time."

Local drug stores are reporting a brisk run on their stock since Sunday.

As of mid-afternoon yesterday, many shelves had been emptied.

Pharmacist Judith Phan of a Uniprix pharmacy downtown said she had turned away five people by 2 p.m.

"I had one man who told me he already tried three other pharmacies," Pham said. "I'm expecting more people will come in - we've re-ordered."

An east-end Jean Coutu was also out of stock, while a Parmaprix had just one mask left. "We usually sell about one a day. We sold eight," a clerk said.

Leroux suggested that at least 6 million masks distributed by the military in Mexico City so far have been ordinary ones that aren't anti-microbial and therefore have probably already been contaminated.

The flu is "very good news for us," said Benoit Sicotte general manager of Triosyn Research Inc. in Mirabel. "It gives our company better exposure."

The phones began ringing off the hook at the end of last week.

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