New Delhi: The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a global health alert after three cough syrups produced in India were found to be contaminated with toxic chemicals and linked to the deaths of several children in the central state of Madhya Pradesh.
The affected medicines- Coldrif from Sresan Pharmaceutical, Respifresh TR from Rednex Pharmaceuticals, and ReLife from Shape Pharma- were identified during investigations following the deaths of children under the age of five in Chhindwara city.
According to the WHO, laboratory tests confirmed that the syrups contained dangerously high levels of diethylene glycol, a toxic industrial solvent used in antifreeze, measured at nearly 500 times the permissible limit. The agency warned that consumption of the contaminated medicines poses serious health risks, including kidney failure and death.
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), India’s national drug regulator, said the syrups were consumed locally and have not been exported. “There is currently no evidence of illegal export of these products,” the authority stated.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also confirmed that the toxic cough syrups had not entered the American market. The WHO urged all countries to remain vigilant and report any detection of the contaminated medicines to the agency immediately. It also advised health professionals and the public to avoid the use of the listed products and to purchase medicines only from licensed and verified sources.
This incident follows a series of recent global alerts involving contaminated cough syrups originating from different manufacturers in India, which have previously been linked to child deaths in The Gambia and Uzbekistan.
Health authorities said investigations are ongoing to determine how the contamination occurred and whether regulatory lapses contributed to the tragedy.
