This French bug spray could be your best defence against mosquito bites this summer

As mosquito season in France picks back up again, a French consumer magazine has singled out a brand of mosquito repellent as the most effective compared to its competitors.

Cinq Sur Cinq's anti-mosquito lotion, targeted for temperate zones, was identified as the most efficient repellent out of 15 products that the consumer publication 60 millions de consommateurs tested this summer. 

In second place was a spray from Insect Ecran and in third, a Mosi-Guard spray.

With prices online ranging from €4.90 to €9.12 (depending which pharmacy you buy from) the Cinq Sur Cinq repellent outranked other products in terms of length of protection, according to 60 millions de consommateurs. The magazine noted that repellents vary widely, ranging from two to ten hours of protection.

The Connexion tested out the Cinq Sur Cinq product and found it fared well against an evening on the French Riviera. After two hours outside and a good night's sleep, this user — whom mosquitoes seem to find particularly tasty — found no bug bites in the morning. 

The test comes at a time when France is on high alert due to the recent propagation of the tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) — a species native to Southeast Asia, known to spread chikungunya, dengue fever and the Zika virus.

Last year was particularly dangerous. Between May 1 and November 30, there were 809 locally-acquired cases of chikungunya and 30 locally-acquired cases of dengue recorded in the country, according to Santé publique France.

To combat the problem, local authorities in France are flooding the environment with sterilised male tiger mosquitoes. The insects are most concentrated in the south of the country — notably the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region — but are established across most of mainland France at this point. 

That being said, the heatwave may have contributed to less mosquitoes overall. That is because dry weather and extreme temperatures disrupt the insects’ life cycle. 

In most cases chikungunya, dengue fever and the Zika virus are not deadly. However, they still pose serious health risks, said Dr Guillaume Lacour, head of research at French pest control firm Altopictus.

"For a significant percentage of the population that will be affected, there will be long-term effects lasting several months and sometimes several years after contracting the virus," he said.

Protecting yourself

Sprays and lotions like Cinq Sur Cinq's product offer fast relief and protection from bites. However, tackling the mosquito threat long term requires different solutions.

Mosquito traps are one option.

Biogents, which makes insecticide-free traps, offers products that mimic human cues to draw bugs towards it. The traps were developed after 16 years of research, according to the company website.

Dr Lacour, who has a PhD in medical entomology, specifically recommended BG-GAT style traps. These are designed specifically to trap female tiger mosquitoes looking to lay their eggs.

It's "the most effective trap for tiger mosquitoes at home — and one that's easy to set up when starting," he said.

Electric traps that mimic human odour are another option, though they can be more expensive. 60 millions de consommateurs also included a type of UV lamp from Mostineo  which traps mosquitoes by generating CO₂.

Dr Lacour suggested a multi-step approach to ensuring both you and your neighbours are protected.

First, take a tour of your home and garden and get rid of any stagnant water. He also recommended checking drainpipes.

If you see any larva in the water, throw it out on the ground. You can also use Bti spores, which come from bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, a naturally occurring soil bacterium used as an insecticide and which can be found in garden centres. The spores can be placed in the water or you can pour in a little boiling water to kill the larva.

Then, invite your neighbours to do the same on their properties. Because tiger mosquitoes do not travel large distances throughout the course of their lives, this method is likely to be effective in protecting your household, Dr Lacour said.

Installing traps completes the strategy, as does a regular routine of checking stagnant water at least once a week.

If in the short term you are still opting for a lotion or spray repellent, look for those that contain DEET, picaridin or IR3535 (this is the one found in Cinq Sur Cinq's product). The World Health Organisation recommends these active substances for effective anti-mosquito products.

A quick note on DEET: though some adverse reactions have been reported, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the official US government health agency, advises that the chemical is extensively used in products and poses very little risk to human health. 

Lastly, if you experience any symptoms of the illnesses associated with tiger mosquitoes, seek medical help right away.

"The earlier we detect it, the more effective the treatment, and the faster we will break the chain of transmission," Dr Lacour said.