Key Takeaways
- WHO issues global alert for three contaminated Indian cough syrups.
- Contamination involves toxic diethylene glycol (DEG), found at levels 500x above safe limits.
- Linked to severe illness and child fatalities in Madhya Pradesh.
- Indian regulators have halted production and initiated recalls.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a critical global health alert, warning authorities worldwide about three specific batches of contaminated cough syrups manufactured in India. The products—Coldrif, Respifresh TR, and ReLife—have been identified as “substandard” and contain dangerous levels of a toxic industrial solvent.
Child Fatalities and Toxic Contamination
The alert follows reports of severe illness and deaths among children in Madhya Pradesh, linked to these oral medicines. Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of diethylene glycol (DEG). In the Coldrif syrup, contamination was nearly 500 times the permissible limit.
Severe Health Risks of DEG
Diethylene glycol is highly toxic to humans. Ingestion can cause abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, headache, altered mental state, and acute kidney injury, which can be fatal, especially for young children. The WHO has stressed these products are unsafe and must not be used.
Regulatory Action in India
India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has informed the WHO that state authorities have taken immediate action. Production has been halted at the implicated sites, product authorisations suspended, and a recall of the contaminated batches has been initiated.
Global Vigilance Urged
While the CDSCO states there is no evidence the medicines were formally exported, the WHO calls for global vigilance. The risk remains high in informal and unregulated supply chains where these products could circulate. Healthcare professionals and the public are urged to report any sightings or adverse effects to national authorities immediately.
