Indonesia suspends sale of syrups after at least 133 children die

After the death of 70 children in The Gambia, it is Indonesia's turn to announce the death of at least 133 children under the age of 5 due to acute kidney failure.

And as in Gambia, the composition of certain syrups is in the crosshairs of the authorities who have suspended the sale of all syrup.

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After the death of 70 children in The Gambia, it is Indonesia's turn to announce the death of at least 133 children under the age of five due to acute kidney failure.

As in Gambia, the composition of certain syrups is in the crosshairs of the authorities.

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With our correspondent in Kuala Lumpur

,

Gabrielle Maréchaux

The authorities announced this week that they had already been investigating since last January an abnormal increase in deaths following acute kidney failure in children.

The correlation made in Gambia between the death of young children and syrups containing high doses of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol in

four Indian

cough syrups then led Indonesia to ask questions, then to note that in 63% of deaths identified in the country, similar syrups had been ingested. 

In Indonesia, however, Indian syrups found in Gambia are not marketed, but authorities have already identified five locally produced syrups with toxic compositions. 

To read also: 

The WHO issues an alert on four Indian syrups after the death of 66 children in The Gambia

The number of identified victims has increased considerably in recent days, but it will undoubtedly be difficult to assess the exact number, because with less than three intensive care beds per 100,000 inhabitants and access to hospital structures very fluctuating in the archipelago of 17,000 islands, bringing your child to the hospital for treatment is not always easy.

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