Online scramble to buy ‘wonder’ spray
PRODUCTS containing Citriodiol can be purchased online at outlets such as Amazon and Superdrug.
However, within minutes of the news being released yesterday, many products containing the chemical compound were selling out fast.
Products were only available for click and collect as news broke that the product could offer an additional layer of protection from Covid-19.
And others were showing limited amounts as people clamoured to buy off-the-shelf sprays for as little as £10 online.
Compound
Mosi-guard, the commercial product that contains Citriodiol, is not available at Boots or Superdrug but can be bought online elsewhere.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said a Citriodiolbased spray has been given to Britain’s Armed Forces in light of the Surgeon General’s advice that it would “do no harm” and should be used on a precautionary basis as an “additional layer of protection” against the virus.
Citriodiol is made from the oil of leaves and twigs of the eucalyptus citriodora tree.
The trees are native to Asia, South America and Africa.
The chemical compound is found in insect repellents such as Mosi-guard, Pyramid Trek and others.
Mr Wallace said: “Weaker Citriodiol spray solutions form a barrier on the skin and have been found to provide a barrier against variants of the Sars virus similar to that causing the current pandemic.”
Research by scientists found higher concentrations also killed the virus.
It has long been widely used in commercial repellents.
Citriodiol has already been known to kill other types of viruses.