Barbadians have been flocking to supermarkets across the island to purchase insect repellents, insecticides, mosquito coils and vaporizer mats to deal with mosquitoes.
Supermarket personnel said they had noted increased sales for all the products which either kill mosquitoes or keep them away.
This comes amidst concern about the number of dengue fever cases in Barbados. The Ministry of Health reported last week that there were 511 confirmed cases of dengue fever so far this year, compared to 169 confirmed cases for the same period in 2012.
At Channell’s Supermarket in Collymore Rock, store supervisor Charmaine Pinder said there was an increase in the sales of insect repellents, insecticides, mosquito coils and vape mats.
A similar story was given by Linda Bascombe, store manager at Buy Rite Supermarket on Roebuck Street. She said the company did not sell the vape mats but they were seeing increased sales in the other anti-mosquito items.
Maria Trotman, the owner of the Bridge Supermarket in Charles Rowe Bridge, St George, said shoppers were buying citronella candles in addition to the mosquito coils and insecticides.
Taminta Boyce, a store clerk at St Elmo’s Supermarket, Sports Bar and Bakery in St Lucy, said the pest control items, especially mosquito coils, have been in great demand. (LK)
