The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday issued a medical product alert for four contaminated medicines made in India, warning that they have been potentially linked with acute kidney injuries and 66 deaths among children in The Gambia in Africa.
This was informed by the WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, at a media briefing on Wednesday.
"WHO has today issued a medical product alert for four contaminated medicines identified in The Gambia that have been potentially linked with acute kidney injuries and 66 deaths among children. The loss of these young lives is beyond heartbreaking for their families," the WHO chief said.
The four medicines are cough and cold syrups produced by Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited, in India, the WHO director-general said, adding that the WHO is conducting further investigation with the company and regulatory authorities in India.
The WHO chief said that while the contaminated products have so far only been detected in The Gambia, they may have been distributed to other countries.
"WHO recommends all countries detect and remove these products from circulation to prevent further harm to patients," the WHO director general added.