WHO alert for four Indian syrups as 66 children die in Gambia


PTI, Oct 6, 2022, 8:30 AM IST

AP photo

 

United Nations/Geneva: The World Health Organization has issued an alert for four “contaminated” medicines manufactured by an Indian pharmaceutical company that have been “potentially linked” with acute kidney injuries and 66 deaths among children in The Gambia.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters Wednesday, “The four medicines are cough and cold syrups produced by Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited in India. WHO is conducting further investigation with the company and regulatory authorities in India,” he said, adding that the loss of young lives due to the products is “beyond heart-breaking for their families”.

The four products are Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup and Magrip N Cold Syrup. The manufacturer of these products is Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited, Haryana, India, and “to date, the stated manufacturer has not provided guarantees to WHO on the safety and quality of these products”, WHO said.

The WHO chief said while the contaminated products have so far only been detected in The Gambia, they may have been distributed to other countries. WHO has recommended all countries detect and remove these products from circulation to prevent further harm to patients.

The WHO Medical Product Alert refers to four substandard products, identified in The Gambia and reported to WHO in September 2022.

WHO said substandard medical products are the products that fail to meet either their quality standards or specifications. Therefore, they are “out of specification”, the health body said.

Laboratory analysis of samples of each of the four products confirms that they contain unacceptable amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol as contaminants.

Outlining the risks associated with the products, WHO said diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol are toxic to humans when consumed and can prove fatal.

“Toxic effects can include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, inability to pass urine, headache, altered mental state and acute kidney injury which may lead to death,” it said.

All batches of these products should be considered unsafe until they can be analysed by the relevant National Regulatory Authorities. The substandard products referenced in this alert are unsafe and their use, especially in children, may result in serious injury or death, it added.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

World Bunts Summit to be held in Mumbai on December 7

SC dismisses PIL seeking CBI probe into Tirupati laddus row

Salman Khan gets another threat; message sent to Mumbai traffic police helpline

SC overrules 1967 verdict holding AMU can’t be minority institution

BJP MP Tejasvi Surya, editors of Kannada news portals booked for allegedly spreading fake news

Egg distribution scheme for school children under scrutiny over alleged mismanagement

India Post M’luru division to offer doorstep service to pensioners for Jeevan Praman certificate

Related Articles More

Doctors report treating ‘petticoat cancer’ in women who might have tied sarees tightly at waist

The Role of Screening and Early Detection in Liver Cancer

Need to recognise obesity as chronic disease: Experts

Study reveals how gut microbes work with body clock in managing stress

Weight loss could help one manage PCOS symptoms, study suggests

MUST WATCH

Gho Pooja in Deepavali Festival

Melukote Deepavali

Ganapathi Co-operative Society Ltd

Udayavani Chinnara Banna 2024

Annapoorna Aahar | Food Places In Mysore


Latest Additions

Chikkaballapur: Yoga teacher feigns death by holding her breath, escapes murder bid

SC notice to Centre on plea to include ayurveda, yoga in Ayushman Bharat

BJP wants to snatch ”Jal, Jungle, Jameen” from tribals, alleges Rahul at Jharkhand poll rally

Leopard spotted near M’luru airport, Forest Dept begins search operation

Mangaluru International Airport achieves record passenger & air traffic movement in October 2024

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.