Mosquitoes carrying the Zika virus are more likely to buzz off when blasted by bug spray containing the plantlike ingredient Picaridin, a Consumer Reports study claims.
The best repellent to protect against Aedes mosquitoes that carry the rapidly spreading virus is Sawyer Fisherman’s Formula, which is made with 20 percent Picaridin, according to the study.
Off! Deep Woods VII, which contains the harsher chemical DEET, is the second-best brand to combat the bloodsuckers, followed by Natrapel 8-hour spray.
Repellent made with Picaridin is also safer for children and elderly people than DEET, according to Consumer Reports.
Mosquitoes have played a major role in the Zika outbreak, which was declared a public health emergency by the World Health Organization on Monday.
The virus has spread through South America and Central America, causing birth defects, and is expected to spread to the US this summer. At least five cases have been documented in New York residents who traveled abroad.
Bug-spray firms are ramping up production due to the virus, which also causes a fever and rash.
“Unquestionably we’ll see some increased demand,” Andrew Wundrock of Wisconsin Pharmacal told USA Today.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommended Friday that men who have traveled to Zika-infected areas use condoms or abstain from sex with pregnant partners. The virus is found in saliva and semen and, in rare cases, can be transmitted sexually.
There is no vaccine to prevent the virus, so avoiding mosquito bites is key, said Harry Savage, chief of ecology for the CDC.
“Using an insect repellent is one of the best ways you can protect yourself from Zika,” Savage said.
Consumer Reports also added that repellents made with natural plant oils such as citronella, lemongrass oil and cedar oil lose their effectiveness in just an hour.