Gambian President Adama Barrow said on Friday that a surge in acute kidney injuries believed to be related to paracetamol syrup, which has killed dozens of children in recent months, is under control, with only two diagnoses in the past two weeks. Authorities launched an investigation last month after doctors noticed in July that a number of children had developed symptoms after consuming a locally sold paracetamol syrup used to treat fevers.
Kidney injuries have caused 66 child deaths in the past three months, Barrow told the nation, adding that the investigation is ongoing. Meanwhile, the government has ordered importers and shops to suspend sales of all brands of paracetamol syrup in the small West African country. The drug was also withdrawn from all pharmacies and households.
The World Health Organization (WHO), which is also investigating the deaths, said on Wednesday they may be linked to contaminated cough and cold syrups made by Indian drugmaker Maiden Pharmaceuticals Ltd. The announcement followed laboratory analysis that confirmed “unacceptable” levels of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol, which can be toxic and lead to acute kidney injury.
Maiden said she had just heard about the deaths and was trying to find out the details. Barrow said the Gambian Ministry of Health is working with the WHO and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some syrup samples sent to Senegal, Ghana, France and Switzerland for testing on Thursday showed signs of contamination, he added, without elaborating. The Department of Health is also reviewing quality controls on drug imports and other related regulations, Barrow said.
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