'Lemsip shortage' hits Britain as shoppers say they can find any cold and flu ... trends now
Desperate Brits are scrambling to find supplies of cold and flu medicines amid a surge of seasonal illnesses which is 'flooring' people this winter.
As the rate of Covid-19 and flu cases continues to soar, pharmacies have seen a huge spike in under-the-weather people seeking out remedies.
But with illness rates skyrocketing, medicines like Lemsip, Day and Night Nurse and own-brand cold and flu treatments have been selling out, sparking fears online of a 'national shortage'.
Pharmacies have already reported running out of several products, including sachets of Lemsip Max amid 'extreme demand' amid concerns the UK could soon be ravaged by a new 'twindemic' of Covid and flu.
Shoppers say they are struggling to find cold and flu remedies like Lemsip Max in pharmacies and shops amid an apparent shortage following a huge spike in demand over the winter
People have been rushing out to buy cold and flu remedies as a wave of seasonal illnesses hit the UK. Pictured posed by a model
At some Boots stores in London, Lemsip Max sachets are entirely sold out, with just boxes 'day and night' tablets left. Meanwhile, social media users have reported stocks running dry in Waitrose and Tesco shops.
One Boots worker told MailOnline: 'We don't have any Lemsip powder or our own brand cold and flu sachets at all. Only Beechams. We've not had any for two to three weeks. I believe there are supply problems.'
Pharmacists in Northern Ireland have also reported a shortage of the drug following a huge spike in demand for cold and flu cures.
Brian Brolly, Superintendent Pharmacist at Grahame's Pharmacy in Lisburn told the News Letter: 'The combination pack Day and Night Nurse capsules have sold out. 'Those we have not been able to get for quite a while.
'Out of the five or six different variations of Lemsip on two are currently available. Everything else has been out of stock.'
He added: 'Everything is more extreme this year in terms of medication - both over the counter and behind the counter from the dispensary too. It has been a challenge at times to be honest.'
On social media, scores of people have reportedly struggled to find any cold and flu remedies this winter.
Among the stores hit by an apparent shortage of some Lemsip products was this one in west London, which only had the day and night capsules and its own brand on sale
One woman said: 'Genuine question. Is there a Lemsip shortage? Been to over 8 different shops since before Christmas and the shelves are totally bare.'
Another reported a shortage at the Waitrose store in Worthing, West Sussex, while a third - who spent the Christmas break battling a virus - added: 'I have been floored with a nasty bug since Christmas Day. Started feeling better yesterday and thankfully just cold like symptoms now. There's so much of it about. Apparently there's been a shortage of Lemsip and paracetamol round here because of it!'
While one man made light of the shortage, tweeting: 'Why is no one discussing the shortage of Lemsip! How am I going to deal with this manflu!?'
The news comes as it was revealed a 'highly infectious' Covid strain has emerged and is already behind one in 25 cases in the UK.
The strain — dubbed XBB.1.5 — has caused alarm in the US over its quick spread and a recent rise in hospitalisations. It is behind four in ten cases in the country, up from two a week ago.
The variant,
