The growing threat from vector-borne diseases has inspired the Blue Power Group to step up promotion of its mosquito repellent soaps produced under the Blue Power Castile label.

The mosquito repellent soaps – available both as bathing and laundry soaps – have been around since 2013, and were the brainchild of the founder and chairman of the Blue Power Group (BPG), Dhiru Tanna, according to managing director Major Noel Dawes.

The original product was popular in downtown Kingston then, as Jamaicans made every effort to avoid the dreaded Chikungunya virus. However, demand fell rapidly as the Chikungunya threat waned. But demand is rising again, now that the dual threat of the Zika virus (ZIKV) and the H1N1 influenza virus looms, and Jamaicans are being urged to use insect repellent, wear long sleeves and pants, and stay in air-conditioned places as far as possible. Also recommended is the use of window and door screens.

BPG’s new anti-Zika product recently caught the attention of Minister of Health, Dr. Christopher Tufton, who has welcomed it as a fine example of private sector participation in his ministry’s efforts to curb the threat of vector-borne diseases.

Dr Tufton told the

Jamaica Observer that while he has only heard of the product, he sees it as inducement to the private sector to become more involved in Jamaica’s efforts to find solutions to the threat of these diseases.

“We continue to search for new and improved ways of dealing with the threat because the challenge is becoming more intense, and once the product is tried, tested and approved as safe for use and has the desired effect, we are prepared to look at it and see how it can help,” he added.

The BPG was among four companies which Mayberry Investment Limited’s chairman Christopher Berry acknowledged at his company’s annual general meeting last week Wednesday at the Knutsford Court Hotel, New Kingston, as its main investment focus for 2016/17.

It is evident that with a stepped-up export programme, and such promising products as mosquito repellent soaps to fight the dreaded Aedes Aegypti mosquito – an alternative which sounds preferable to genetically modified (GM) mosquitoes, BPG soaps may find favour with local consumers and may bring the company’s domestic sales close to its expanding export market.

Dawes, in an interview with the Observer at the Mayberry AGM, said that with the release of its Zika virus mosquito repellent soap as an important factor in the fight to contain the virus, BPG will be coming up with a “more forceful” promotional campaign.

“Right now, it’s all over downtown Kingston, but we are trying to increase shelf space in the supermarkets, which is a lot more difficult,” he confirmed.

While mosquito repellent with DEET as an active ingredient is said to be the most effective and best studied repellent against mosquitoes currently available in the market, Dawes says that it is not used in BPG’s soaps because it is not recommended for human beings.

BPG uses Citronella instead. Citronella is one of the essential oils obtained from the leaves and stems of different species of Cymbopogon, including lemongrass.

Dawes says that with the company developing two different strains, some people who feel that regular sweating will reduce the effect may want to use the laundry soap, while people in cooler temperatures would prefer the bath soap.

“If you work in an air-conditioned environment, it is good to use the bath soap on your skin because it lasts longer. People tell us they put the soap close to the fan after they dip it in water, and as the fan oscillates the scent circulates. That’s something we didn’t even know initially. People wash their curtains with the laundry soap to repel mosquitoes trying to enter the house,” he explained.

BPG makes a wide range of soaps including those for acne and blemishes, and even now is developing a new brand for skin care. But Major Dawes insists that despite publicity to the contrary, the company’s “cake” soaps were never developed for skin bleaching, as suggested by some users.