NY state’s top prosecutor said on Thursday six companies have agreed to stop marketing products with claims that they can protect users from the mosquito-born Zika virus, just a day after his office sent them cease-and-desist letters.
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ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) New York’s attorney general says six companies touting ineffective insect repellents as protectors against the Zika virus have taken down misleading online ads.
He specifically called out products that are based in B vitamins and “essential oils”, along with those that emit ultrasound energy to purportedly deter mosquitoes (like the iGuard 2.0 Ultrasonic Insect Pest Repellant and STAR Ultrasonic Pest Repeller).
“Unfortunately, some companies are taking advantage of public concern about Zika to peddle products that simply don’t work”, Schneiderman said in a statement.
“As the US sees an increase in Zika virus cases, particularly with the cases of local transmission in Florida, Texas continues to be proactive in its efforts to control this devastating virus”, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said in a news release Wednesday. And Nobitech, a NY company, has introduced an apparel line that it says will repel the Zika-bearing mosquito. The virus can affect pregnant women, causing birth defects.
The city says sanitation workers will pick up as many as four tires left for curbside removal – preferably on the second of the two regular weekly pickups.
“The thing to remember about Zika is it’s transmitted by mosquitoes, but it’s spread by people”. Consumers should instead buy one of the hundreds of repellents registered with the Environmental Protection Agency as safe and effective for warding off mosquitoes. It is a worrying disease, of course, especially for pregnant women.
“If Texas has local transmission, we’ll quickly announce it and describe the area of potential risk for Texans”, Hellerstedt said.
The count includes three pregnant women.
The Zika virus is spread through infected mosquitoes, but can also be spread by sexual or blood contact.
CDC says 30 million to 40 million Americans fly to Latin America and the Caribbean every year and even more go by land. These repellents contain ingredients that have been clinically proven to effectively repel mosquitoes. It’s also boosting production and started mentioning Zika on its repellent cans.
Treat clothing with permethrin or purchase pre-treated clothing.
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“This coverage will serve as a new prevention tool to augment and expand our efforts to protect women from contracting Zika virus, thereby decreasing their risk of delivering a baby with a severe birth defect such as microcephaly”.
