NEW DELHI: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has sought clarification from the Indian government on whether a cough syrup linked to the deaths of children has been exported to other countries.
Indian authorities have advised the public to avoid two additional brands of cough syrup following the deaths of 17 children under the age of five, all linked to the presence of a highly toxic ingredient. The government is now also facing questions about whether any contaminated products were exported.
According to local media reports, the children died over the past month after consuming cough medicine containing diethylene glycol—a poisonous substance—at levels nearly 500 times above the permissible limit.
The deaths have been specifically linked to the Coldrif brand, which was banned after testing confirmed the presence of the chemical on October 2.
A public health alert issued by Gujarat and several other states on Wednesday warned that two more syrups—Respifresh and RELIFE—also contain diethylene glycol.
The advisory described the chemical as “a toxic substance that can cause severe poisoning, including kidney failure, neurological damage, and even death, particularly among children.”
Coldrif, the cough syrup linked to the deaths of 17 children in India, was manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceutical Manufacturer and sold only within the country, according to a government document reviewed by Reuters.
Gujarat officials confirmed that two other syrups—Respifresh and RELIFE—were distributed in other Indian states but did not clarify whether they had been exported. The companies and drug officials did not respond to questions over whether the other two syrups were exported as well.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said it is awaiting official confirmation from Indian authorities before deciding whether to issue a Global Medical Products Alert regarding Coldrif syrup. The agency reiterated its existing guidance advising against the use of cough and cold medicines in children.
India’s Drug Controller General, Rajeev Raghuvanshi, acknowledged earlier that inspections of factories producing the syrups revealed serious regulatory lapses.
In particular, manufacturers failed to conduct mandatory batch testing of medicinal ingredients, as required by law.
In an advisory dated October 7 and published on a government website, Raghuvanshi did not name specific companies or indicate how many were found in violation. However, he stated that the inspections targeted firms previously linked to substandard drug quality.
Cough syrups manufactured in India have come under global scrutiny in recent years, with deaths linked to their consumption reported from around the world, including the death of more than 70 children in The Gambia in 2022.
