Investigation into cough syrup deaths of 69 children: India tells Gambia

In a tweet, S Jaishankar said, “Dr Mamadou Tangara in a telecon with Gambian FM expressed our deepest condolences death of young children recently. Underlined that the matter is being seriously investigated by the appropriate authorities. We agreed to keep in touch.”

As the World Health Organization (WHO) issued an alert on four cough and cold syrups made by an Indian company, saying they could be linked to the deaths of 66 children in The Gambia, Indian health officials said the domestic company announced a halt in production. Maiden Pharmaceuticals factory in Sonipat, Haryana.

The WHO said that the cough and cold syrups made by Maiden Pharmaceuticals in Haryana can cause serious kidney injuries. “Please do not use them,” WHO said in its advisory.

“Laboratory analysis of samples from each of the four products confirms that they contain unacceptable amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol,” the WHO said in a medical product alert.

According to the WHO, diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol are toxic to humans and can prove fatal as their effects can include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, inability to urinate, headache, altered mental status and acute kidney injury. which can lead to death. ,

The four cough and cold syrups linked to the death of 66 children in The Gambia are Promethazine Oral Solution, Cofaxmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Macoff Baby Cough Syrup and Magrip N Cold Syrup. The WHO has said in a release that the Indian company has not yet guaranteed the safety and quality of these products.

The deaths from the worst drugs to be made in India are a blow to an industry whose exports more than doubled in the past decade to reach $24.5 billion in the fiscal year through March. Known as the “pharmacy of the world”, India supplies 45 percent of all generic drugs to Africa.

(with agency input)