Chemical in Insect Spray Can Kill Coronavirus According to UK Study

A chemical commonly found in insect repellent can eliminate the strain of coronavirus that gives rise to COVID-19, according to a study by the defence laboratory of Britain published last August 26, 2020.

Identified as the root of the current global pandemic, a novel coronavirus, morphology above, named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the cause of the potentially fatal illness named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Photo from Alissa Eckert, MSMI, and Dan Higgins, MAMS (https://phil.cdc.gov/Details.aspx?pid=23312).

Citriodiol, a common and active ingredient in household insect repellents like Mosi-guard or Chicco Anti-Mosquito Range, possesses properties that can eradicate viruses on a test surface when mixed with their liquid phase, according to the British Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL).

“Mixing a virus suspension with Mosi-guard spray or selected constituent components resulted in a reduction in SARS-CoV-2,” said the study.

Furthermore, the study also adds that the Mosi-guard spray exterminated a significant amount of the virus, wherein there was no recoverable virus when the repellent was at a relatively high concentration.

Citriodiol, the famed repellent chemical crafted from the oil within the leaves of the eucalyptus citriodora tree, is already widely used in commercial products as one of many chemicals that can kill different forms of the coronavirus.

However, the study is only intended to serve as an informational foundation for other external organizations who are conducting further research on the virus, according to the British Ministry of Defence.

Needing to be further affirmed, the study states that “DSTL is hopeful that the findings in this research can be used as a springboard for other organizations to expand and develop the research, as well as to confirm the findings in this publication.”

Despite the lack of further affirmation, Britain moves forward with its attempts to utilize Citriodiol in its efforts to maintain and control the spread of SARS-Cov-2, wherein the country’s armed forces were given the insect repellent in order to provide additional protection against the virus.

A spray that mainly contains Citriodiol was distributed after personnel were advised that the spray would “do no harm” as an “additional layer of protection” against the novel coronavirus.