Cough syrup causes 60 deaths in The Gambia: WHO checks other countries

Created: 2022-10-07 05:46

Cough syrup is put on a spoon.

(symbol image) © Imago

The WHO has issued a warning about contaminated medicines from an Indian manufacturer.

At least 66 children died as a result of taking cough and cold syrups.

Banjul - The World Health Organization (WHO) warns of the use of four contaminated medicines from an Indian manufacturer after dozens of deaths in children in West Africa.

According to the WHO, the cough and cold syrups sold in Gambia are suspected of causing acute kidney failure and the deaths of more than 60 children, as the WHO announced in Geneva on Wednesday.

The Gambian health authorities also called for the suspected cough and cold syrups to no longer be prescribed.

According to them, the children affected by kidney failure were under five years old.

According to a report, the Ministry of Health and the Red Cross of the West African country have mobilized numerous helpers who are going door to door to secure the suspect drugs.

WHO issues drug warning: cough syrup is said to be contaminated - at least 66 dead

According to the WHO, it is investigating the incident in cooperation with the manufacturer Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited and Indian authorities.

It cannot be ruled out that the drugs in question were also used in other countries.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said on Wednesday: "The WHO today issued an alert on four contaminated medicines identified in The Gambia that may be linked to acute kidney damage and 66 child deaths." And further : "The loss of these young people is beyond heartbreaking for their families".

In his statement, Ghebreyesus urged caution and called on all countries to "detect and phase out these products to prevent further harm to patients".

Video: WHO investigates Indian cough syrup after the deaths of 66 children in The Gambia

On September 9th, hospitals in The Gambia were asked to stop using paracetamol syrup.

Investigators had reported the deaths of at least 28 children aged five months to four years from acute kidney failure a month earlier.

(dpa/fmü)