Oct 9 (Reuters) - Hurricane Helene's impact on medical

device maker Baxter International's ( BAX ) North Cove facility

could further limit the supply of intravenous fluids, the U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services said on Wednesday.

The company said it aims to restart production in phases and

return to 90% to 100% allocation of certain IV solutions by the

end of 2024.

Baxter said it was also increasing the U.S. allocation of

its IV fluids for direct customers to 60% from 40% and for

distributors to 60% from 10%, effective Oct. 9.

The company had on Sept. 29 said production at its North

Cove site has been closed due to hurricane-related flooding and

it was working with the government to assess the damage and

bring the plant back online.

On Tuesday, Germany's Fresenius said it was

checking options to start new infusion-solution production lines

faster than planned at a North Carolina facility to help

mitigate potential shortages due to the impact on Baxter's site.

(Reporting by Christy Santhosh in Bengaluru; Editing by Leroy

Leo and Arun Koyyur)