NEW YORK — While most of the nation is beginning to populate the cough-cold aisle in search of relief of their runny noses, coughs and sore throats, manufacturers of nonprescription cough-cold remedies are realizing the largest jump in sales that they've seen for quite some time. 

For the four weeks ended Dec. 22, which is about two weeks before flu incidence really started reaching peak levels across the East and Southeast, sales of cold and flu remedies were up 8%. Across Reckitt Benckiser's OTC portfolio, that's translated into a 22% sales lift capturing sales of just under $100 million, according to a report published Monday in AdAge citing Nielsen data as provided by Deutsche Bank. And Procter & Gamble OTC sales are up 9%. 

Ancillary categories are up, too, the AdAge report noted. Sales of disinfectants are up 22% for that four-week period with Clorox realizing 24% in growth and Reckitt Benckiser 17%. 

FOR MORE COVERAGE OF THE FLU EPIDEMIC CLICK HERE