India probes possible cough syrup link to deaths of at least nine children

Indian authorities have been looking into whether contaminated cough syrup has caused nine children’s deaths in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan since late August.

The federal ministry of health and family welfare ordered the investigation on Saturday after it was discovered that a batch of the medication had dangerous levels of a toxic chemical.

State authorities tested samples of Coldrif cough syrup, which was produced by Sresan Pharma in Tamil Nadu’s southern state, and found to contain diethylene glycol (DEG) that was above permissible limits, according to the ministry.

DEG, a toxic compound found in industrial solvents, is fatal if consumed in small amounts.

The Health Ministry stated in a statement that “the samples are discovered to contain DEG beyond the permitted limit.”

The sale of the syrup has been prohibited throughout the state, according to Mohan Yadav, chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, where the majority of the deaths have been reported.

He claimed that the company that makes the syrup’s other products are prohibited as well.

Local media reports claimed that Tamil Nadu’s state authorities also outlawed the product after the drug regulator for Tamil Nadu confirmed DEG contamination in samples taken directly from Sresan Pharma’s manufacturing facility in Kanchipuram.

According to a statement from the Health Ministry, the Madhya Pradesh Food and Drug Administration (MPFDA) stated that three of the 13 samples it examined had been found to be free of contamination.

Authorities have begun inspections of 19 drug manufacturers in six states to look for defects in quality control and suggest fixes to avoid problems from occurring in the future, according to the ministry.

According to the Reuters news agency, Sresan Pharma did not respond to an email request for comment right away.