NEW YORK CITY — With the current scare over the Zika virus, you may have made it a point of stocking up on mosquito repellent that actually works — but with authorities cracking down on repellents for making unfounded claims, it's best to do your research before buying.
The Zika virus, contracted through infected mosquitoes as well as sexual contact with people who are infected with the virus, has sparked warnings to avoid many countries such as Brazil and Puerto Rico. So far, the only mosquito-borne transmission in the U.S. has happened in Miami, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Authorities have expressed increasing warnings about the effects of Zika — which can range from mild fever in adults to microcephaly and severe brain damage for babies in utero if a pregnant woman contracts the disease, according to the CDC.
Sticking with repellents that have been certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is a good place to start, according to Jeneen Interlandi, an investigative health reporter at the non-profit organization Consumer Reports that independently tests products. The EPA uses technical information submitted by the companies themselves to certify products (or not).
Consumer Reports, which has its own list of effective repellents, found the most effective active ingredients in an insect repellent are DEET — a highly effective but also potentially toxic in too-large doses — as well as more natural extracts such as oil of lemon eucalyptus and picaridin — a synthetic chemical that mirrors natural compounds found in black pepper.
She added that DEET should make up no more than 30 percent of the product because it could potentially become unsafe for the wearer without providing more protection from mosquitoes.
Here are six mosquito repellents (and a bug-blocking shirt) that are either EPA-certified or were top performers in Consumer Reports’ testing:
► Picaridin Insect Repellent from Sawyer
Price: $8.95
Sawyer’s insect repellent has the No. 1 rating from Consumer Reports. The active ingredient in it is picaridin, which has a weaker odor than DEET and has a mild citrus scent. Researchers found it effective against mosquitoes for up to eight hours.
► Ben's Tick and Insect Repellent from Ben Meadows
Price: $7.50
Ben's repellent contains what Consumer Reports has deemed an effective but safe amount of DEET — 30 percent. The organization also found it worked effectively for 7 1/2 hours. You can also apply it to clothing before wearing for added protection against mosquitoes, according to the product description.
► Lemon Eucalyptus Repellent from Repel
Price: $4.97
The active ingredient in this repellent is oil of lemon eucalyptus. Consumer Reports’ testing found the product effective for up to seven hours against the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which can carry the Zika virus.
► Natural Insect Repellent from Quantum Buzz Away
Price: $7.99
Quantum Buzz Away is not on Consumer Reports’ list, but it effective for two to three hours, according to the EPA. Its active ingredient is citronella oil.
► Insect Repellent and Clothing Treatment from BioUD
Price: $8.95
The active ingredient in this repellent is 2-Undecanone, which can either be manufactured synthetically or extracted from the oil of rue, an herb. This product has been certified by the EPA, which found the product effective for up to five hours.
► DEET-Free Insect Repellent from Coleman Botanicals
Price: $7.50
Coleman Botanicals is another repellent certified by the EPA. The agency found the repellent effective for up to six hours. The active ingredient is the plant-based oil of lemon eucalyptus.
► No-Fly Zone crew shirt from L.L. Bean
Price: $89.99
Earlier this year, Consumer Reports tested a handful of clothing that claimed to repel insects. Before it was washed, this L.L. Bean Crew shirt effectively repelled both the Aedes and Culex genera of mosquitoes. However, after 25 washes the shirt did not work so well. The Aedes mosquitoes bit three out of the four people participating in the test.
Interlandi, the investigative reporter from Consumer Reports, recommended doubling up by wearing the shirt and repellent on skin that is not covered by clothing. The L.L. Bean crew comes in cream, blue or pink.
