dengue outbreak

Demand, price of mosquito repellents soar

The demand for mosquito repellents such mosquito-killing bats, sprays and the more traditional mosquito nets has soared amidst a Aedes mosquito menace and unrelenting dengue attacks. Families that have children are specially rushing to buy those items. However, people’s choice of the mosquito repellent is being determined by their buying capacity. Lower middle-class families and students are buying mosquito coils and mosquito nets, whereas middle- and upper middle-class families are picking up mosquito bats, mosquito-killing sprays and lotions. Insect-repellent sprays and coils have been found to be in high demand compared to other items.

Noor Ali Saha, who works in a private firm, bought five refill packs of a liquid repellent from the College Gate area in Dhaka.

Explaining why he bought so many in one go, he told the Independent that the use of mosquito repellents had gone up in recent months due an overwhelming presence of mosquitoes day and night in his house in Mirpur.

Inquiries in Mirpur, Farmgate, Gulisthan, Motijheel and Paltan revealed that the sale of mosquito repellents had almost doubled.

Moreover, the cheaper varieties of mosquito nets were selling fast, said traders.

Shafiqul Islam, traders at Gulistan's Fulbaria market, said that the wholesale price of small mosquito net was Tk 90–95 each but they were selling for Tk 110 to 120 in the retail market.

The wholesale price of 4ft x 5ft mosquito nets is Tk 130–150 each but they are selling at Tk 170-180 each in the retail market. The more expensive nets cost between Tk 350 and Tk 600.

Traders say people in the capital generally prefer sprays and coils over mosquito nets.

But of late the sale of mosquito net has almost doubled compared to other years, say traders.

They attribute this increase to greater awareness among the people, thanks to persistent campaigns on television, newspapers and by government agencies about dengue. Traders say the sale of ‘magic’ mosquito nets has specially increased.

Magic mosquito nets are much finer than the regular varieties, and hence allow a greater flow of air. Each single such net costs Tk 200 to Tk 250. And the big 6ft x 7ft ones cost Tk 600–700.

Talking to The Independent a hawker doing business on the footpath said that the demand for magic mosquito nets was currently very high, which prompted him to change his line of business.

“Earlier, I used to sell handkerchiefs and musk. But after the dengue outbreak, I am selling magic nets,” he said. But its price was slightly high this time, he added. In the mean time, a repellent called Odomos is becoming popular among city dwellers.

Odomos is a clinically proven mosquito repellent brand that offers the most effective protection from all kinds of mosquitoes, including the carriers of the deadly dengue, chikungunya, malaria, filaria and encephalitis pathogens. A product of the Indian manufacturer, Dabur, it protects a person for about eight hours from mosquito bites after the ointment is applied to the skin.

Talking to The Independent a drug shop salesman said that a 100 gram Odomos tube normally costs less than Tk 180. But in recent days its price had escalated to Tk 250-300. In his view, the demand has far outstripped the supply.

Dabur is yet to get permission from the government to import the repellent and officially market it here. As a result, it is in short supply.

The salesman said the ointment was being brought illegally by traders from abroad and supplied to medicine stores and super markets.

The prices of mosquito killing agents have remained the same as before, but the demand is high. “Different drug companies have tagged the

price on their products. So, we cannot sell them at a higher price,” said Ruhul Amin, owner of Al Amin general store.

The ACI aerosol 475ml is selling at Tk 305, Xpel aerosol 475ml at Tk 305, Godrej Hit spray 400ml at Tk 275, Godrej Good Knight Xpress system liquid vaporizer 35ml at Tk 135, ACI All Out Ultra Mosquito Liquid Vaporizer Combo at Tk 175, and Godrej Good Knight Advance Machine Silver Refill 45 Night is selling at Tk275, according to Amin.

But, he said, the price of coils was high as was the demand.

Price of ACI black fighter Jambo coil per packet was selling at Tk 75, per packet of Godrej Good Knight Advanced Xpress Coil was priced at Tk 80, and Baoma mosquito coil at Tk 80.

The price of a mosquito bat is high. Buyers said that a bat that was priced at Tk 200–250 two weeks ago was now selling at Tk 400–500.

Traders said the demand for such bats was high, and hence a high price tag. Moreover, it was imported item, the price of which often fluctuated.

dengue outbreak

Demand, price of mosquito repellents soar

The demand for mosquito repellents such mosquito-killing bats, sprays and the more traditional mosquito nets has soared amidst a Aedes mosquito menace and unrelenting dengue attacks. Families that have children are specially rushing to buy those items. However, peoples choice of the mosquito repellent is being determined by their buying capacity. Lower middle-class families and students are buying mosquito coils and mosquito nets, whereas middle- and upper middle-class families are picking up mosquito bats, mosquito-killing sprays and lotions. Insect-repellent sprays and coils have been found to be in high demand compared to other items. Noor Ali Saha, who works in a private firm, bought five refill packs of a liquid repellent from the College Gate area in Dhaka. Explaining why he bought so many in one go, he told the Independent that the use of mosquito repellents had gone up in recent months due an overwhelming presence of mosquitoes day and night in his house in Mirpur. Inquiries in Mirpur, Farmgate, Gulisthan, Motijheel and Paltan revealed that the sale of mosquito repellents had almost doubled. Moreover, the cheaper varieties of mosquito nets were selling fast, said traders. Shafiqul Islam, traders at Gulistans Fulbaria market, said that the wholesale price of small mosquito net was Tk 9095 each but they were selling for Tk 110 to 120 in the retail market. The wholesale price of 4ft x 5ft mosquito nets is Tk 130150 each but they are selling at Tk 170-180 each in the retail market. The more expensive nets cost between Tk 350 and Tk 600. Traders say people in the capital generally prefer sprays and coils over mosquito nets. But of late the sale of mosquito net has almost doubled compared to other years, say traders. They attribute this increase to greater awareness among the people, thanks to persistent campaigns on television, newspapers and by government agencies about dengue. Traders say the sale of magic mosquito nets has specially increased. Magic mosquito nets are much finer than the regular varieties, and hence allow a greater flow of air. Each single such net costs Tk 200 to Tk 250. And the big 6ft x 7ft ones cost Tk 600700. Talking to The Independent a hawker doing business on the footpath said that the demand for magic mosquito nets was currently very high, which prompted him to change his line of business. Earlier, I used to sell handkerchiefs and musk. But after the dengue outbreak, I am selling magic nets, he said. But its price was slightly high this time, he added. In the mean time, a repellent called Odomos is becoming popular among city dwellers. Odomos is a clinically proven mosquito repellent brand that offers the most effective protection from all kinds of mosquitoes, including the carriers of the deadly dengue, chikungunya, malaria, filaria and encephalitis pathogens. A product of the Indian manufacturer, Dabur, it protects a person for about eight hours from mosquito bites after the ointment is applied to the skin. Talking to The Independent a drug shop salesman said that a 100 gram Odomos tube normally costs less than Tk 180. But in recent days its price had escalated to Tk 250-300. In his view, the demand has far outstripped the supply. Dabur is yet to get permission from the government to import the repellent and officially market it here. As a result, it is in short supply. The salesman said the ointment was being brought illegally by traders from abroad and supplied to medicine stores and super markets. The prices of mosquito killing agents have remained the same as before, but the demand is high. Different drug companies have tagged the price on their products. So, we cannot sell them at a higher price, said Ruhul Amin, owner of Al Amin general store. The ACI aerosol 475ml is selling at Tk 305, Xpel aerosol 475ml at Tk 305, Godrej Hit spray 400ml at Tk 275, Godrej Good Knight Xpress system liquid vaporizer 35ml at Tk 135, ACI All Out Ultra Mosquito Liquid Vaporizer Combo at Tk 175, and Godrej Good Knight Advance Machine Silver Refill 45 Night is selling at Tk275, according to Amin. But, he said, the price of coils was high as was the demand. Price of ACI black fighter Jambo coil per packet was selling at Tk 75, per packet of Godrej Good Knight Advanced Xpress Coil was priced at Tk 80, and Baoma mosquito coil at Tk 80. The price of a mosquito bat is high. Buyers said that a bat that was priced at Tk 200250 two weeks ago was now selling at Tk 400500. Traders said the demand for such bats was high, and hence a high price tag. Moreover, it was imported item, the price of which often fluctuated.