The nationwide University Pharmacy chain says its sale of sterilizing hand lotions has doubled this year following fears of a wide-scale Finnish swine flu outbreak. Service sector firms and young families are increasingly stocking up on hand sanitizers.
“People usually buy hand sanitizers ahead of travelling or trips to the summer cottage. In the working world people reach for the disinfectant gels after shaking hands at meetings,” says Jari Kokkonen of the University Pharmacy.
The Finnish Cosmetic, Toiletry and Detergent Association says six million euros worth of hand sanitizers were sold last year, which constitutes a rise of 40 percent over 2007 figures. Hand sanitizers first became popular in connection with the emergence of the avian influenza in 2006. This was also the same year that sanitizing lotions and gels became available in supermarkets.
”Hand sanitizers are effective in preventing the spread of certain pathogens. Regular hand washing with soap and water is, however, a number one priority as it removes and loosens dirt as well as bacteria from hands,” says Antti Alitalo of the National Institute for Health and Welfare.
The sale of face masks, which were flying off Finnish pharmacy shelves in April, has meanwhile levelled off.