Hurricane Helene Halts Production at Baxter's IV Fluid Plant

The closure of Baxter's North Carolina facility has triggered a nationwide shortage of critical hospital supplies.

The Baxter International plant in North Cove, North Carolina, which produces a significant portion of the U.S. IV fluid supply, was damaged by Hurricane Helene.
The closure has led to hospitals receiving only 40% of their normal IV fluid supply, prompting them to implement conservation measures.
IV fluids are essential for patient hydration and medication delivery, affecting various hospital departments including ICUs and surgical units.
Experts warn that the disruption highlights vulnerabilities in the U.S. supply chain, which relies heavily on a few main suppliers for critical medical products.
Baxter is exploring alternative production options globally, but no timeline for resuming operations at the affected plant has been provided.