Children’s deaths prompt WHO warning against Indian-made cough syrup

New Delhi — The World Health Organization has issued an alert warning towards using two Indian cough syrups blamed for the deaths of at the very least 20 kids in Uzbekistan. The WHO mentioned the merchandise, manufactured by India’s Marion Biotech, have been “substandard” and that the agency had failed to supply ensures about their “safety and quality.”

The alert issued on Wednesday got here after Uzbekistan authorities mentioned final month that at the very least 20 kids died after consuming a syrup made by the corporate underneath the model identify Doc-1 Max.

India’s well being ministry subsequently suspended manufacturing on the firm and Uzbekistan banned the import and sale of Doc-1 Max.

The WHO alert mentioned an evaluation of the syrup samples by the standard management laboratories of Uzbekistan discovered “unacceptable amounts of diethylene glycol and /or ethylene glycol as contaminants.”

Diethylene glycol and ethylene are poisonous to people when consumed and may show deadly.

“Both of these products may have marketing authorizations in other countries in the region. They may also have been distributed, through informal markets, to other countries or regions,” WHO mentioned.

The merchandise have been “unsafe and their use, especially in children, may result in serious injury or death,” it mentioned.

Marion Biotech officers couldn’t be reached instantly for remark.

It is the second Indian drugmaker to face a probe by regulators since October, when the WHO linked one other agency’s medicines to a spate of kid deaths in Gambia.

Maiden Pharmaceuticals was accused of producing a number of poisonous cough and chilly cures that led to the deaths of at the very least 66 kids within the African nation.

The victims, principally between 5 months and 4 years outdated, died of acute renal failure.

India launched a probe into Maiden Pharmaceuticals however later mentioned the investigation had discovered the suspect medicine have been of “standard quality.”