Best mosquito repellents for preventing Zika virus

Much as airlines are offering refunds or itinerary changes to travelers wary of being infected with the Zika virus, Consumer Reports is generously releasing its ratings of mosquito repellents to nonsubscribers.

The nonprofit media group's product tests found that the most effective repellents have heavy amounts of picardin or Deet. Recommended brands include Repel, Sawyer, Off! Deepwoods and Natrapel.

There is currently no vaccine for the mosquito-borne virus, which is spreading rapidly and has been linked in pregnant women to a birth defect called microcephaly.

While the Zika virus has primarily affected Central and South America, 12 cases have been reported in Florida, where a health emergency has been declared in five counties.

f

We and our partners use cookies to understand how you use our site, improve your experience and serve you personalized content and advertising. Read about how we use cookies in our cookie policy and how you can control them by clicking Manage Settings. By continuing to use this site, you accept these cookies.