Consumer Reports, a nonprofit media group, conducted a test on the best mosquito repellents to avoid Zika virus and found out that the best mosquito repellents include great amounts of DEET, Picaridin and lemon eucalyptus oil extract. Suggested mosquito repellents include Ben's 30 percent DEET Tick & Insect Wilderness Formula, Sawyer Fishermans Formula Picaridin and Repel Lemon Eucalyptus.
Zika virus infection is a disease triggered by a virus transferred mainly by Aedes mosquitoes. It can cause Guillain-Barré syndrome, microcephaly and other neurological disorders, according to World Health Organization. Persons infected with the virus experience joint and muscle pain, mild fever, headache or malaise, conjunctivitis and skin rash which usually last for 2 up to 7 days.
Based on a report published in the U.S. News & World Report, more than 1,650 Americans have been infected with Zika virus in recent months, almost all while roaming overseas. The four persons in Florida are supposed to be the very first people to catch the virus in the 50 states, the report continued.
Worried of this news, Consumer Reports made a test to find out the best mosquito repellent that can shield Americans against Zika virus. They focused their attention on this matter as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggested avoiding mosquito bites is the most fitting way to prevent Zika.
"In a laboratory, very brave volunteers put their arms into a cage full of 200 disease-free mosquitoes and we use two types of mosquitoes," Consumer Reports' Trisha Calvo said in a report published in CBS New York. The findings reveal three ingredients that can help Americans avoid Zika virus — oil of lemon eucalyptus, Picaridin and DEET.
Consumer Reports noted the Sawyer repellent, which contains 20 percent Picaridin, is the best bug spray overall to keep away mosquitoes such as deer ticks and Culex mosquitoes for minimum of 8 hours. Other bug spray products that have been proven effective to keep mosquitoes away are Repel Lemon Eucalyptus with 30 percent lemon eucalyptus and Ben's 30 percent DEET Tick & Insect Wilderness Formula.
