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Flu Season Epidemic Causing Concerns

BALTIMORE (WJZ) --- With the flu season hitting epidemic levels, the medication, Tamiflu, is in high demand.

Tracey Leong explains why pharmacies can't keep it on the shelves.

Tamiflu is the only medication used to treat the flu and with the influx of cases, pharmacies are selling out. Mainly because they weren't prepared for such an intense flu season.

The deadly flu outbreak has claimed the lives of 21 children and 43 states are reporting widespread activity, including Maryland.

"Scary, that's why I got my flu shot," Baltimore resident, Terrence Jones said.

But for many, the vaccine is not enough.

"The flu shot did not work this year," pharmacist Dr. Morris Maier said.

Dr. Maier owns Joppa Road Pharmacy in Parkville. He says the pharmaceutical drug, Tamiflu, is used to treat the flu virus, shortening the recovery time.

"Greater demand than there is supply so because of that, we are running out of Tamiflu," Dr. Maier said.

At Joppa Road Pharmacy, they've ordered 67 percent more of the medication than they've needed to in past years.

"Ordered enough stock to make sure our patients or the hospitals around us needed it, that we would have it in stock so we were aggressive about it," Dr. Maier said.

This unexpected flu outbreak caught many off guard. .

"Any illness going around concerns me," Baltimore resident, Katy Kahl said.

People are taking preventative measures to stay healthy.

"People are stock piling it just in case and there are other ones that are getting prescriptions that are using it prophylactic because other members have it, but they don't have the flu," Dr. Maier said.

Dr. Maier says the larger chain drug stores were unable to keep up with the demand so their pharmacy picked up the burden and they're busier than ever.

Dr. Maier says he doesn't recommend people to use Tamiflu unless they have the flu because it takes away from those who actually need it. While there is a high demand, he says suppliers are not out of the drug and it is available.

While the flu shot is less effective, doctors still recommend getting one.

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