MPRODUCTS from a Sheppey firm are being used to help stop the spread of the SARS virus in the Far East.

Hygiene products from MediChem International, in Rushenden Road, Queenborough, have been flown and shipped to Hong Kong, Malaysia and Taiwan to help fulfil urgent demands for effective protection against the virus.

Several containers of the firm's concentrated disinfectant TriGene and alcohol-based hand sanitiser TriGel have been exported to help curb the spread of SARS.

MediChem managing director Tom Allsworth said: "These are already established markets for our specially formulated disinfectants, but there has recently been a massive upturn in demand, which we were able to respond to with immediate consignments."