Health secretary tours critical hospital supplies factory damaged by Helene [Video]

MARION, N.C. (FOX Carolina) – On Monday, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra toured a damaged factory that makes critical hospital supplies in western North Carolina.

Flooding triggered by Hurricane Helene hit a Baxter International plant in North Cove, North Carolina, that makes much of the country’s supply of sterile intravenous, or IV, fluids. It also makes fluids used by some patients on home kidney dialysis.

RELATED: Helene damaged a factory that makes IV fluids

According to the Associated Press, hospitals had to start making small changes to stretch supplies of IV fluids, which are used to keep patients hydrated and also to deliver medicine.

Secretary Becerra toured the facility and held a press conference with Baxter CEO José Almeida after to discuss efforts by both HHS and Baxter to continue to improve supply and increase allocations of several IV solutions codes to 100% by the end of the year.

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