Was cough syrup behind 20 deaths in MP exported? WHO seeks clarification from India

20 children have died so far in Madhya Pradesh due to kidney infections caused by the consumption of the contaminated cough syrup, state health minister said.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has sought clarification from the government on whether the Coldrif cough syrup, linked to the death of 20 children in Madhya Pradesh, has been exported to other countries, Reuters reported.

Chhindwara: The Drugs Department sealing the Coldrif cough syrup containers after 10 children allegedly die due to consuming it during raid in an Ayush firm, in Chhindwara. (ANI Video Grab). (ANI Video Grab)

The WHO said it will assess the need for a Global Medical Products Alert on Coldrif syrup after it receives an official confirmation from the Indian authorities, the report said.

20 children have died so far in Madhya Pradesh and five others have been admitted in critical condition due to kidney infections caused by the consumption of the contaminated cough syrup, state health minister Rajendra Shukla said.

A seven-member SIT has been formed to investigate the deaths. The SIT, led by an Assistant Commissioner of Police, conducted probe at the factory of the drug manufacturer near Chennai on Wednesday, sources told PTI.

A Chennai-based pharmaceutical company has been supplying the cough syrup 'Coldrif' to Puducherry, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan and other states.

The Food Safety and Drug Administration department has declared that the samples of the cough syrups collected from the manufacturing facility in Sunguvarchatram, Kancheepuram, were found to be 'adulterated'. The company has been instructed to 'halt production' immediately.

States like Telangana, Punjab and Tamil Nadu have already put a ban on the ‘contaminated’ cough syrups.