With Epidemic, Face Masks Are Suddenly in Demand

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With Epidemic, Face Masks Are Suddenly in Demand

By Meg , Washington Post Staff Writer

Tuesday, April 28, 2009; 6:29 PM

Think the swine flu epidemic took you by surprise? Imagine the plight of one

medical supplier who markets face masks through Amazon.com.

If consumers had searched for medical masks on Amazon yesterday, they would have

found a case of 300 face masks manufactured by Mölnlycke Healthcare for $27.45.

What a deal: the same product usually sells for more than $60 on specialty Web

sites.

An order placed yesterday morning for that price was canceled by Amazon with a

note that the face masks were " out of stock. " Today, the seller re-listed the

same product for $74.54...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/28/AR2009042803049.\

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