WHO issues global alert over contaminated cough syrups linked to child deaths in India
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a global alert after identifying three contaminated cough syrups produced in India, warning that they pose “significant and potentially life-threatening risks.” The agency urged all countries to stay vigilant and report any detection of the medicines to health authorities.According to the WHO’s advisory released on Monday, the affected syrups — Coldrif (manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceuticals), Respifresh TR (from Rednex Pharmaceuticals), and ReLife (from Shape Pharma)- contained diethylene glycol (DEG) in quantities nearly 500 times above permissible limits. The toxic substance is commonly found in industrial solvents and is known to cause kidney failure and death when ingested.India’s drug regulator, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), informed WHO that the syrups were consumed by children under the age of five in Chhindwara, a city in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. All the affected children reportedly died after developing fever, vomiting, and urinary complications.CDSCO said that the contaminated products had not been exported from India and that there was no evidence of illegal shipments. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also confirmed on Friday that the toxic cough syrups had not been shipped to the United States.
WHO raises concerns over drug safety gaps
Following the deaths of at least 20 children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the WHO expressed “deep concern” over gaps in India’s pharmaceutical oversight and warned that such products could still reach other countries “through unregulated distribution channels.”Indian authorities have since arrested the owner of Sresan Pharmaceuticals, G. Ranganathan, a 73-year-old veteran of the industry. His company’s manufacturing license is set to be permanently canceled, according to Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramaniam.The contaminated syrups have now been banned in multiple Indian states, with some regions prohibiting the use of all cough and cold syrups for children under the age of two.
