Texarkana plant ramps up production for children's flu medication

By JULIE PARR jparr@ktbs.com

Posted: Nov 4, 2009 5:11 PM
Updated: Nov 5, 2009 9:13 AM

The outbreak of flu has led to shortages of the medication Tamiflu.

 A Texarkana, Texas, plant is stepping in and helping pharmacists make their own liquid version of the remedy for children.

  The patent medicine maker Humco is working around the clock to manufacture the cherry syrup used to make the liquid form of Tamiflu for children.

  Humco's Susie Hickey said the plant is working at five times its normal production rate.

  "In a typical year we produce about 85,000 units annually during this season," she said. "In the past six weeks we will have produced a half a million units."

  Once the cherry syrup leaves the Texarkana company, it's distributed to pharmacists who empty powder from adult capsules and dilute it with the syrup into children's doses.

  Humco is also shipping syrup to Canada and Germany.

 Health officials say Tamiflu can reduce the severity of flu symptoms if used within 72 hours of coming down with the virus.

  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said more than 100 children have died of swine flu since April.

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