RAHUL SHARMA DEBT CONNECT IN MANCHESTER, UK,
A naturally derived mosquito repellent that was given to British soldiers in April is effective at providing protection against Covid-19, defence scientists have said.
But it is unclear whether the spray would make any practical difference beyond frequent hand-washing and the use of alcohol-based hand sanitisers and personal protective equipment in insulating against the virus.
The Ministry of Defence released an eight-page paper from the Porton Down-based Defence Science and Technology Lab (DSTL), which tested the efficacy of Mosi-guard, a Citriodiol-based spray, on plastic and artificial skin.
Jeremy Quin, a junior defence minister, said the research found that sprays containing Citriodiol “can kill the virus”.
DSTL was more cautious. In the key test, the lab said there was “some loss of recoverable virus” on synthetic latex skin an hour after it had been treated with Mosi-guard. However, some virus was still recoverable over a four-hour period.
Citriodiol sprays were made available to the army in the early phases of the Covid-19 crisis because they were known to kill other strains of coronavirus such as Sars.
The defence secretary, Ben Wallace, said they were issued on the basis that they would do no harm and could form an additional layer of protection. It is not known how many soldiers have used the spray.
Citriodiol is derived from the oil of Eucalyptus citriodora, or lemon eucalyptus, and is marketed as an alternative to Deet. Mosi-guard is supplied by a small Leeds-based company, Citrefine.
Quin invited others to take forward the DSTL’s research, which has not yet been peer-reviewed.
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