SARS scare boosts sales of vitamins<\/p>\n
Sari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Fears of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) has boosted the
\nincome of drug traders as people rush to take vitamins and other
\nfood supplements to ward off the spread of the virus.<\/p>\n
\"The disease brings luck for my business,\" said Teguh, a
\nstreet vendor on Jl. Tomang Raya, West Jakarta.<\/p>\n
He said that before news of the disease broke, he sold about
\n60 vitamin C tablets, each for Rp 500 (about 5 US cents), per
\nday.<\/p>\n
\"But now I can even sell more than 100 tablets per day. Once,
\nI even sold 160 in a day,\" he said.<\/p>\n
SARS is a new mystery virus causing panic around the
\nworld.<\/p>\n
The latest data from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows
\nthere are 2,722 cases worldwide and have been 106 deaths.<\/p>\n
Doctors said that building a resistance by maintaining a
\nproper diet, ensuring adequate rest and regular exercise could
\nmean avoiding infection.<\/p>\n
Dr. Sardikin Giriputro, the head of the SARS treatment center
\nat Sulianti Saroso Hospital in Sunter, North Jakarta, said a
\nbalanced diet was enough.<\/p>\n
\"Good nutrition can actually be provided from our daily diet.
\nWith adequate rest, drinking enough water and avoiding smoking,
\nsomeone will be able to maintain resistance,\" Dr. Sardikin said.<\/p>\n
He said a daily dose of 500 milligram of vitamin C was enough.
\n\"Any consumption more than that will be wasted through the
\nurine.\"<\/p>\n
Intensive advertisements for vitamin and other food
\nsupplements have became a new phenomenon lately. They all claim
\nto prevent SARS. The claims seem to be working in terms of sales.<\/p>\n
Karlina, 32, an employee of a private bank, was at a drugstore
\nlooking for vitamins. \"This SARS disease somehow reminds me to
\nconsume vitamins and other food supplements regularly,\" she said.<\/p>\n
\"I usually miss taking it daily, but now I have to be more
\ndisciplined for my own sake,\" said Karlina, who preferred using
\nsupplements instead of relying on a balanced diet.<\/p>\n
She said she now consumed about five 500-milligram vitamin C
\ntablets per day.<\/p>\n
\"I do not have a healthy diet, so I might miss something,\" she
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Karlina said her tight schedule meant it was difficult to
\nexercise.<\/p>\n
The situation resulted in robust sales for drugstores.<\/p>\n
Cinde, owner of Sejahtera, a drugstore in Glodok Plaza, West
\nJakarta, told The Jakarta Post on Thursday that sales of
\nvitamins, food supplements, hand sanitizers and Chinese herbal
\ndrugs had jumped 200 percent.<\/p>\n
\"These capsules are actually for those who want clearer
\nbreathing and better respiration, but maybe people think it could
\nhelp them prevent SARS so they rushed for it anyway,\" she said,
\nshowing a small thin box with pink-colored Chinese characters
\naround it.<\/p>\n
Yoesoef from a drugstore in the Pramuka market, East Jakarta,
\nsaid sales of vitamins and supplements had increased by about 100
\npercent.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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