Homegrown catnip rivals DEET as mosquito repellent
Researchers have developed a mosquito repellent using locally grown catnip in Uganda that performs as effectively as DEET. This innovation offers a low-cost, sustainable alternative for rural communities to protect against malaria.
Why it matters
Providing an affordable, locally sourced repellent could significantly improve public health outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa where imported chemicals are often prohibitively expensive.
A lotion made from catnip grown in Ugandan fields has been shown to repel mosquitoes as well as DEET, the synthetic chemical most repellents rely on.
The catnip version, at 6% oil, cut landings on bare legs by about 80–95% over the four hours after dark. It matched a commercial cream at every site in the trial.
DEET works well, but it is imported and costly, which keeps it out of many hands across sub-Saharan Africa.
A repellent grown and made locally could give rural families affordable protection during the evening hours they spend outdoors, when malaria-carrying mosquitoes are biting.
DEET has kept mosquitoes off human skin for decades, and public-health agencies still recommend it.
Across much of sub-Saharan Africa, though, the chemical has to be imported, and the price point puts it out of reach for many households.
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