Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Araghchi to Grossi: These parties will bear responsibility for the consequences of their actions
Araghchi to Grossi: Iran will respond to any unlawful action by European countries or parties attempting to turn the Agency into a tool for achieving their objectives
Araghchi to Grossi: We urge the Agency to warn against the consequences of any political move against Iran
Araghchi to Grossi: We call on the Agency to highlight Iran’s full cooperation during the upcoming Board of Governors meeting next week
Araghchi to Grossi: We demand that the Agency reflect the facts in a manner that prevents certain parties from exploiting it to advance their political agendas
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi holds a phone call with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi
Trump envoy Witkoff has sent 'detailed and acceptable proposal' to Iran for nuclear deal; it's in their best interest to accept it: White House Press Secretary Leavitt
Hamas official says Witkoff's position toward group was 'unfair' and shows 'complete bias' to 'Israel'
Hamas official says it has considered Witkoff's proposal acceptable for negotiations, says 'Israel's' response was incompatible with what the group agreed on
Hamas official says group has not rejected Wikoff's proposal for Gaza ceasefire

Cough syrup investigated over death of 66 children in The Gambia

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 6 Oct 2022 09:09
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

Four medication manufacturers in India are being investigated by the WHO for being the possible cause of the deaths, with the E.coli bacteria being another possible linked cause.

  • x
  • Children in The Gambia (AFP)
    Children in The Gambia (AFP)

The deaths of 66 children in the Gambia may be linked to four cough and cold syrups made by Maiden Pharmaceuticals in India, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) alert, which also warned that contaminated medications may have been sent and distributed outside The Gambia - leading to fears of possible global exposure.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the medications “have been potentially linked with acute kidney injuries and 66 deaths among children." While WHO was investigating the company and regulations in India, Tedros expressed, “The loss of these young lives is beyond heartbreaking for their families.” 

The four cough and cold products are Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup, and Magrip N Cold Syrup.

A Gambian Health Ministry investigation also declared that the acute kidney failure outbreak could be a result of the E. coli bacteria, which broke out in July and is still ongoing. On September 23, health authorities recalled all medicines containing paracetamol or promethazine syrup. The bacteria was discovered in the stools of many children, but many of them also took paracetamol syrup, adding more suspicion to the cause of death.

“The preliminary results from the ongoing investigation indicate that it is most probably the paracetamol and promethazine syrups that caused the acute kidney injury cases in this outbreak,” the nephrologist leading the health ministry’s investigation, Abubacarr Jagne, told AFP Wednesday.

Related News

WHO faces major downsizing as US funding cuts take toll

WHO facing major budget cuts following US withdrawal

In September, the Ministry released a statement, “Since July 2022, there has been an increase in the number of severe kidney disease with high fatality among children mainly following diarrheal diseases". 

The WHO alert said, “To date, the stated manufacturer has not provided guarantees to WHO on the safety and quality of these products,” adding that the lab analysis of the products' samples “confirms that they contain unacceptable amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol as contaminants."

The substances mentioned by the WHO are considered to be fatal, while the toxic effect “can include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, inability to pass urine, headache, altered mental state and acute kidney injury which may lead to death."

When contacted by Reuters, Maiden Pharma declined to comment and the Drugs Controller General of India did not respond, and nor did India’s Health Ministry. However, WHO declared that information received from India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation pointed to the fact that The Gambia was the only country that the manufacturer provided the medications to. 

“However, the supply of these products through informal or unregulated markets to other countries in Africa, cannot be ruled out,” WHO said in an email, warning, “In addition, the manufacturer may have used the same contaminated material in other products and distributed them locally or exported" - reiterating that global exposure could potentially happen.

Tedros further called for caution by urging countries to make an effort to “detect and remove these products from circulation to prevent further harm to patients."

Read next: NyQuil TikTok challenge could lead to prefrontal cortex damage, death

  • Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
  • e.coli
  • WHO
  • The Gambia

Most Read

US judges quietly consider private security amid Trump tensions

US judges quietly consider private security amid Trump pressures

  • US & Canada
  • 25 May 2025
President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrive to a news conference in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington (AP)

Rift widens: Trump, Netanyahu clash in heated phone call over Iran

  • Politics
  • 26 May 2025
An Israeli army vehicle moves in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, May 29, 2025 (AP)

Hamas rejects Witkoff ceasefire plan, says alters terms

  • Politics
  • 29 May 2025
Spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, announces a new operation against Ben Gurion Airport on May 29, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen announces successful hypersonic missile strike on Ben Gurion

  • Politics
  • 30 May 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
MIT bans class president who gave pro-Palestine speech
US & Canada

MIT bans class president over pro-Palestine speech

Arab ministers condemn Israel 'ban' on planned West Bank visit
Politics

Arab ministers condemn Israeli ban on planned West Bank visit

Major General Hu Gangfeng, Vice President, National Defense University, People's Liberation Army, China, leaves after a panel discussion during the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Politics

China blasts Hegseth, calls US top 'troublemaker' in Asia-Pacific

US activists demand shutdown of Musk's 'dirty' supercomputer: Reports
Technology

US activists demand shutdown of Musk's 'dirty' supercomputer: NBC News

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS