Swine 'flu fears sees cleaning firm inundated with orders

A Navan company supplying hygiene products to businesses and public facilities has been inundated with orders for an alcohol-based hand cleaning agent as a result of the swine 'flu alert. Mary Tobin of Meath Cleaning Supplies Ltd, Proudstown Road, said that the firm had run out of supplies of the special gel after a rush of orders over the last couple of weeks. "We're inundated with calls from public institutions, schools, commercial firms and even ordinary members of the public and we had run out of supplies completely, but are hoping to stock up again by next Monday," she said. "We're getting orders from places where members of the public will be gathering, and from companies who want to make sure they have proper cleaning agents in place," she added. Mrs Tobin said that while ordinary hand-cleaning soaps were used by many institutions and companies, they were now more anxious to stock up on alcohol-based cleaning agents. Some schools are not waiting for Government advice on hygiene routines and are ordering a product named Flash alcohol gel. "It is important that the product has a 60-70 per cent alcohol content," Mrs Tobin said, "Otherwise, it hasn't the same effect. If people have access to a wash hand basin, they are advised to wash their hands, then make sure they are dried thoroughly before putting on the alcohol-based gel. Some institutions or companies are using the gel only for a 'dry wash' where there is limited access to a wash basin." The Meath Cleaning Supplies company, established 28 years ago, has never experienced an orders rush like the present one. "I know that we are told we shouldn't panic about the swine 'flu but I suppose people want to take sensible precautions to try and protect themselves from infection, she added.