The dengue scare has caused soaring sales in mosquito repellents and equipment in Sangre Grande. Pharmacist Angela Dookeeram at Miracle Pharmacy, Cunapo Southern Main Road, Sangre Grande, said sales had increased ten-fold and certain items were out of stock. "Topical applications are selling out and have to be replenished at least twice a week such as Odomos, Mosquite and Repellam creams, Off spray, citronella oil, insect repellent liquid and Johnson & Johnson insect repellent for babies," Dookeeram said yesterday. "Also selling well are mosquito coils, mats, vaporisers, aerosols and citronella candles. "Customers are also buying Alcolado and Limacol lotions a lot...They say they help prevent mosquito bites."
She said the pharmacy also sold a case of black disinfectant a day. At K Pharm Ltd, corner of Foster Road and 3Brierley Street, Sangre Grande, a representative said there was a marked increase and sales have more than doubled in mosquito repellents, especially Odomos cream and Cutter spray. At another Sangre Grande drugstore, the pharmacist said sales of painkiller medications such as Panadene, Panadol, and Paracetemol increased when customers came in seeking treatment for fever, body pains and headaches, symptoms of suspected dengue. A spokesman for Trinpharm Co in Charlieville, the distributor of Odomos mosquito repellent cream, said it was widely used in the local market because of the competitive price and its ease of application in a cream form.
A 50g tube of Odomos sells for around $15. He said drugstores bought a "fair quantity" of the product. Dookeeram said the neighbouring stores were also experiencing a surge in the sales of fans, mosquito nets, fly swatters and electric swatters in response to the dengue threat. "Even the agricultural shops are doing well," she said. "Whackers are selling like mad...People are cutting their own lawn and buying chemicals and spray cans to do their own yard work and clean-up."