Looming fear of more IV shortages as Hurricane Rafael gains strength

Hurricane Rafael is currently gaining strength at sea, with the storm likely to enter the Gulf of Mexico later this week. While its path remains unclear, it could hit areas along the Gulf line, including Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Texas.

As damage from September’s Hurricane Helene continues to cause IV solution shortages nationwide—in part because of damage to a Baxter manufacturing facility in North Carolina—nonprofit Healthcare Ready is sounding the alarm about the potential for further disruptions. 

Healthcare Ready is a charity that works with the government and private sector to address supply chain snags that could impact public health. In a Nov. 6 alert, the organization warned storm surge floods in Texas could damage the IV fluids supply chain, which is still recovering from Helene. 

The city of Austin produces roughly 4.4% of IV solutions in the U.S., and given that 86% of providers are reporting shortages, further disruptions to supplies could be devastating.

While the Baxter plant in North Carolina is recovering ahead of schedule, it is not expected to be operating at full capacity until December. That one location produces 60% of the IV solutions used by hospitals and healthcare providers in the U.S.