The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday issued a health advisory warning about three contaminated cough syrups identified in India, urging health authorities worldwide to report any detection of the medicines in their countries.
According to the WHO, the affected products are specific batches of Coldrif from Sresan Pharmaceutical, Respifresh TR from Rednex Pharmaceuticals, and ReLife from Shape Pharma.
The agency said the contaminated syrups pose significant health risks and could cause severe, potentially life-threatening illnesses.
India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) informed the WHO that the syrups were reportedly consumed by children all under the age of five who recently died in Chhindwara District, Madhya Pradesh.
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Laboratory analysis revealed that the cough syrups contained toxic levels of diethylene glycol, nearly 500 times higher than the permissible limit.
CDSCO stated that none of the contaminated medicines had been exported from India and that there was no evidence of illegal distribution.
Similarly, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed on Friday that the toxic syrups had not been shipped to the United States.
