The World Health Organization has raised a global alarm regarding a tainted medication responsible for the deaths of at least 20 children. Reports from India indicate that these children, all under the age of five, perished in central India after consuming a lethal cough syrup. The victims, residents of Madhya Pradesh, succumbed within the past month to the toxic substance diethylene glycol [DEG], present in the syrup at nearly 500 times the safe limit.
DEG, typically used as an industrial solvent or antifreeze, is extremely hazardous even in minute quantities. Indian authorities have apprehended S. Ranganathan, the owner of the company producing the lethal Coldrif syrup. Following a report from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) of India, the WHO has issued an alert regarding specific batches of oral liquid medicines, including COLDRIF, Respifresh TR, and ReLife, manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceutical, Rednex Pharmaceuticals, and Shape Pharma, respectively.
Immediate actions have been taken by Indian officials, halting production at the implicated factories and initiating a recall of the contaminated products. While there is no evidence of these dangerous medicines being exported from India, the WHO advises countries to monitor unregulated supply chains carefully.
The agency warns that the tainted products can lead to severe and potentially life-threatening conditions due to the toxic nature of DEG. Symptoms of ingestion include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, altered mental state, and acute kidney injury, which can be fatal. Individuals who suspect exposure are advised to seek urgent medical assistance or contact a poison control center promptly.
Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Rajendra Shukla confirmed the tragic loss of 20 children in districts affected by the incident. The arrested company owner, Ranganathan, is based in Tamil Nadu and is undergoing legal proceedings in Chennai before being transferred to Chhindwara.
Efforts to remove the contaminated medicine from circulation are underway, with local authorities conducting extensive testing and recall operations. The district administrator reported the retrieval of numerous bottles and emphasized the urgency of the situation.
Indian regulations mandate stringent testing of raw materials and final products by drug manufacturers. Since 2023, additional testing at government-approved laboratories has been required for the export of cough syrups, prompted by previous incidents in Gambia, Uzbekistan, and Cameroon involving Indian products linked to child fatalities.
In light of recent findings, Indian authorities have advised against the consumption of two other locally available syrups, Respifresh and RELIFE, produced by Shape Pharma and Rednex Pharmaceuticals, both based in Gujarat, after tests revealed the presence of the same harmful chemical.