After the death of dozens of children in The Gambia, New Delhi and the World Health Organization are investigating the link between the deaths and a cough syrup made in India
The World Health Organization said that the deaths of dozens of children in the Gambia may be linked to a cough syrup made in India, while two sources from the Indian Ministry of Health told Reuters - today, Thursday - that India has opened an investigation in this regard.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters on Wednesday that the organization is investigating deaths from acute kidney injury with the drug regulator in India and the New Delhi-based company, Maiden Pharmaceutical, a cough syrup manufacturer.
The two sources said that the organization informed the Comptroller General of Drugs in India about the deaths late last month, after which the regulator launched an investigation with government authorities, in conjunction with the investigation of the World Health Organization.
The two sources stated that the company manufactured the drink and that it was only exported to the West African country.
Maiden Pharmaceutical did not respond to calls from news agencies to comment on the incident, nor did it respond to emails.
The two sources said the Indian government had asked the World Health Organization to send its report linking the deaths to cough syrup, and would take "all required steps in this regard."
The Gambia had ordered importers and stores last September to suspend sales of all brands of paracetamol syrup, while the government launched an investigation into a suspected link between the drug and the deaths of dozens of young children.
The head of the health system in the West African country said at the time that the investigation was launched after discovering an increase in acute kidney injury cases among children under the age of five at the end of last July.
The drug watchdog said there was not enough data to justify a general ban on paracetamol, a pain reliever often used to reduce fever in children.
The children developed symptoms including inability to urinate, high fever and vomiting, which quickly led to kidney failure.