Eighteen children have reportedly died in Uzbekistan after consuming a cough syrup that was manufactured in India. The Uzbek health ministry said that 21 children had fallen sick after taking the Dok-1 Max syrup manufactured by India’s Marion Biotech Pvt. Ltd based out of Noida in Uttar Pradesh.
Preliminary reports have shown the presence of “ethylene glycol” in it.
“This substance is toxic, and about 1-2 ml/kg of a 95% concentrated solution can cause serious changes in the patient’s health, such as vomiting, lethargy, seizures, cardiovascular problems and acute kidney failure,” a rough translation of the ministry’s statement read.
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has initiated a probe into the children’s deaths with a team of central agencies and the Uttar Pradesh drug department inspecting the Noida office of the pharmaceutical firm, Marion Biotec.
According to an Uttar Pradesh Government official, the company does not sell cough syrup, ‘Doc-1 Max’, in India, and its only export has been to Uzbekistan.
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said the samples of the cough syrup have been taken from the manufacturing premises and sent to Regional Drugs Testing Laboratory, Chandigarh for testing. He said appropriate action would be initiated based on the inspection report.
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