Bhopal, Aug 20 - Swine flu masks have been selling like hot cakes in Madhya Pradesh though there has not been a single positive case in the state so far. While many shops have no stock, others are selling at twice or thrice the usual price.

'Sub-dealers here are on an average getting orders for about 10,000 masks each daily which they are unable to meet. They have placed orders to the distributors in Indore and Delhi but are not getting the supplies,' Naresh Motwani, a sub-dealer of medical supplies, told IANS.

'The result is that the normal disposable masks, usually costing around Rs.5-10 per piece, are now available (wherever they are) for Rs.20-30 or even more,' said Anshumali Joshi, owner of a medical store in Bhopal.

'Similarly, N-94 masks which usually cost Rs.130 each are being sold at Rs.200-250 and N-95 masks are not available at any cost,' he added.

'The surgical masks come from Mumbai and due to heavy demand in Mumbai itself there has been no supply of these masks here. There are many types of face masks like single and three-layered masks. Among them N-95 masks are the safest and considered to be the best in keeping swine flu at bay. But owing to its high demand in other affected areas, N-95 masks have not reached the city yet,' a chemist said.

'In fact N-95 masks have never been available in the markets of Bhopal, Indore or Jabalpur, but some of the shopkeepers have been selling N-94 masks in the guise of N-95 and people who do not have much idea about the genuine one have been purchasing them,' said a sub-dealer who preferred to remain anonymous.