Hurricane Helene triggers IV fluid shortage in U.S. Is Canada next?

Baxter International, which supplies 60 per cent of the U.S. IV fluid stock to hospitals, was forced to shut down operations in late September due to Hurricane Helene.

Hospitals across the United States are scrambling to manage a shortage of IV fluids after Hurricane Helene forced the shutdown of a key facility that produces most of the nation’s supply. The facility also supplies IV fluid to Canadian hospitals.

Baxter International Inc., a medical technology company that supplies 60 per cent of the U.S. stock of intravenous (IV) drips and peritoneal dialysis solutions to hospitals, was forced to shut down at the end of September after Hurricane Helene devastated the southeastern U.S. coast.

The medical company also supplies IV fluids to Canada but so far there have been no reported shortages. There is one Baxter manufacturing facility in Ontario.

A spokesperson from Nova Scotia Health told Global News Wednesday that, although its hospitals receive IV fluid supplies from Baxter, they have not yet experienced any shortages.

“Baxter has not notified us of any issues related to their products, and there has been no impact on IV supplies in Nova Scotia Health facilities,” the spokesperson said in an email.

Global News asked Baxter International whether supplies from its Canadian facility could be diverted to the U.S. A spokesperson provided a link to a company statement and did not directly address that specific question.

Global News has also reached out to Health Canada on the matter but has not yet received a response.

IV fluids are liquids administered directly into a vein through an intravenous drip or injection. They help maintain or restore a patient’s fluid balance, deliver medications and provide essential nutrients.