The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a medical alert after the deaths of several children in Madhya Pradesh, allegedly caused by toxic cough syrups found to contain dangerous levels of diethylene glycol (DEG).
The alert followed a report from India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) on October 8 confirming contamination in three syrups, Coldrif, Respifresh, and ReLife. WHO said the syrups were linked to “localized clusters of acute illness and child fatalities” reported in late September.
“Tests showed the presence of diethylene glycol in at least three oral liquid medicines,” WHO said in its statement. “These products pose significant risks and can cause severe, potentially life-threatening illness.”
The syrups were produced by three Indian firms: Tamil Nadu-based Sresan Pharmaceuticals, Gujarat-based Rednex Pharmaceuticals, and Shape Pharma. Laboratory tests found 48.6% DEG in Coldrif, 1.3% in Respifresh, and 0.6% in ReLife. Only 0.1% is permitted in medicines.
The Madhya Pradesh deaths, mostly among children under five in Chhindwara district, led to a nationwide outcry. Local police confirmed that 22 children had died after consuming Coldrif syrup.
Sresan Pharmaceuticals’ license has been revoked, and its owner, G. Ranganathan, was arrested last week. The Health Ministry has ordered inspections of other manufacturing facilities in Tamil Nadu.
This marks the fifth WHO alert involving Indian-made syrups since 2022, when similar contamination was linked to child deaths in Gambia.
The Indian government has since urged doctors not to prescribe cough syrups to children under two and to use caution for those under five.
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