Gambia Kids Deaths: WHO Stands By 'Dangerous' Cough Syrup Claim After India Calls Link 'Premature'

In October, the WHO issued a warning, recommending authorities to halt sales of the syrups, which were produced by an Indian company.

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After India claimed that four cough syrups connected to infant deaths in Gambia passed inspection in-home tests, the WHO reaffirmed its decision to take action, BBC reported.

In October, the WHO issued a warning, recommending authorities to halt sales of the syrups, which were produced by an Indian company.

According to a representative of the Indian government, the WHO's accusation of the syrups was "premature."

But the health organisation said that it was merely carrying out its mandate.

"WHO's mandate is to issue global alerts about potential risks. WHO stands by the action taken," an official informed the BBC over email.

"Contaminated syrups are harmful and should never be in any medicine, ever," the health organisation continued.

Late in July, The Gambia's medical officials noticed a rise in the number of instances of acute renal damage in children under the age of five. Later, the authorities estimated that 69 kids had died as a result of these wounds.

The WHO stated in October that these fatalities could be related to the four cough syrups produced by the Indian business Maiden Pharmaceuticals.

The Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup, and Magrip N Cold Syrup samples that the WHO claimed to have examined were found to have "unacceptable quantities of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol as contaminants."

Humans are poisonous to diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol, which means ingestion might be lethal.

When India announced that it was looking into the items, Maiden Pharmaceuticals was told to halt manufacturing at its major facility in the northern state of Haryana.

The samples evaluated at a government laboratory, according to a letter from Dr. VG Somani, India's medicines controller general, on December 13th, "were determined not to have been contaminated" with the substances.

"As per the test reports received from [the] government laboratory, all the control samples of the four products have been found to be complying with specifications," he was quoted by BBC in its report.