6% Catnip Lotion Matches 15% Deet in Uganda Trials as Malaria Tools Face Resistance
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 7
6% Catnip Lotion Matches 15% Deet in Uganda Trials as Malaria Tools Face Resistance
2 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 7
Summary
Uganda field trials found a 6% catnip-oil lotion was as effective as 15% Deet at reducing mosquito landings on volunteers, while a 2% version was only slightly less effective.
Laboratory tests first showed the herb’s active compound, nepetalactone, repelled insects, and researchers then tested the lotion in eastern Uganda as a low-cost alternative for rural users priced out of commercial repellents.
The team also showed the repellent could be made locally through a community enterprise; after free distribution funded by grants, the next phase aims to scale production and sell it to create a self-sustaining income stream.
Malaria infected about 282 million people a year and killed 610,000 in 2024, driving demand for new vector-control tools as insecticide and drug resistance rise.
Outside experts said cheap, locally produced repellents could improve access, but warned topical lotions need regular reapplication and should remain a complementary tool pending more household-use research.
As a Ugandan catnip lotion proves as effective as DEET, can this grassroots innovation challenge the global billion-dollar repellent industry?
Beyond killing mosquitoes, could community-owned production of repellents be the ultimate tool for empowering Africa's fight against malaria?
Catnip Lotion Matches DEET: A Community-Driven, Locally Produced Mosquito Repellent Breakthrough for Malaria Control in Uganda
Overview
Recent field trials in Eastern Uganda, published in July 2026, revealed that a 6% catnip essential oil lotion provides mosquito protection comparable to a 15% DEET lotion. This breakthrough is especially important for rural communities where the high cost of DEET makes effective repellents inaccessible. The research, led by Dr. Simon Scofield and his team, focused on creating an affordable solution that involves local community production. By enabling local cultivation and manufacturing, the catnip lotion not only offers strong mosquito repellency but also supports economic sustainability and greater accessibility for those most at risk.