Don't use black mosquito destroyer - PCA

The Pesticides Control Authority (PCA) has issued a warning to the public not to buy the black-coloured mosquito repellent coils, which have hit the market in recent weeks.

With many Jamaicans swearing about the effectiveness of the mosquito destroyer, the PCA has warned that it could pose health hazards, particularly for babies and young children.

In a newspaper advertisement on Friday, the PCA listed five brands of the regular green-coloured mosquito destroyer coils which have been registered and approved for sale on the local market.

"All other mosquito destroyer coils products, including black mosquito coils, are illegal," the PCA advertisement states.

Michael Ramsay, registrar of the PCA, admitted to seeing the coils in question only this week and was alarmed by what he heard about them.

"I'm told that what's special about this, supposedly, is that it gives off no smoke, which I find kind of incredible because the base material of these things are products that catch fire.

"Therefore, they must smoke and secondly, I've heard that the mosquitoes just drop out of the air as soon as you light the thing," said Ramsay

He told The Sunday Gleaner that he is concerned that with the dengue outbreak across the island people might turn to the black destroyer because it works without thinking about the possible harmful effects.

However, Ramsay did not outline the possible negative reaction which persons could get from using the destroyer.

In the packaging notes the makers of the destroyer claim that using dimefluthrin as the main ingredient the destroyer can eliminate mosquitoes while be safe for humans.

The packaging notes also point out that the "product is poisonous to silkworm and fish".

Persons with allergic reaction are also urged to take care in using the product.