the-counter drugs such as anti-diarrhea medicines that flu sufferers may want. A sudden spike in sales of such drugs could signal a flu outbreak. "We think flu is an example where knowing what nonprescription drugs people are buying at the drugstores may be an earlier indicator than waiting until we see the hospitals fill up with the sickest patients," Gerberding said. The government has stockpiled antiviral drugs that could be distributed to treat flu sufferers or prevent new infections. Flu kills an estimated 36,000 Americans each year and sends about 200,000 to the hospital. Officials are looking at ways to avoid future vaccine shortages, including having the government buy millions of doses each year to entice more companies to make the shots. Demand fluctuates from year to year. Several ideas are under consideration, Gerberding said. She added that officials were "very concerned" the deadly bird flu in Asia may migrate to the United States and spread quickly. The U.S. government ordered 2.4 million doses of a bird flu vaccine from Aventis and Chiron. Production is on schedule, Gerberding said. But the vaccine may not help if the flu virus mutates, she added. --SP 0149 Local Time 2249 GMT
