The World Health Organization on Monday issues a warning of contaminated cough syrups that have resulted in more than 300 fatalities around the world, primarily affecting children under the age of five.
The WHO said over the past four months, countries have reported several incidents of over-the-counter cough syrups for children with confirmed or suspected contamination with high levels of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol.
These chemicals are toxic and are commonly used as industrial solvents or antifreeze and can be lethal if ingested in even small quantities, the agency warned.
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“The cases are from at least seven countries, associated with more than 300 fatalities in three of these countries. Most are young children under the age of five.
“These contaminants are toxic chemicals used as industrial solvents and antifreeze agents that can be fatal even taken in small amounts, and should never be found in medicines.
“Most are young children under the age of five. These contaminants are toxic chemicals used as industrial solvents and antifreeze agents that can be fatal even taken in small amounts, and should never be found in medicines,” it said in a press statement on its website.
Contaminated cough syrup has been a concern for public health officials.
The global health body issued three global medical alerts addressing these incidents.
The Medical Product Alert N°6/2022 on October 5, 2022, focused on the outbreak in the Gambia.
Medical Product Alert N°7/2022 on November 6, 2022, focused on Indonesia.
Medical Product Alert No1/2023 on January 11, 2023, focused on Uzbekistan.
Since these are not isolated cases, the WHO has urged stakeholders engaged in medical supply chain to take immediate and coordinated action.
The agency called on regulators and governments to “detect and remove from circulation in their respective markets any substandard medical product that has been identified in the WHO medical alerts referred to above as potential causes of deaths and disease,” it added.
