No contamination found: Drugs regulator sources on cough syrup-linked deaths
No contamination found: Drugs regulator sources on cough syrup-linked deaths
The drugs’ regulator has said that no contamination was found in the
cough syrup that has been blamed for the deaths
of over 10 children in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
The generic cough syrup, Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide, is usually supplied at government hospitals.
“Till now, no contamination was found in our testing. All reports of syrup contamination till now are unsubstantiated and baseless,” sources in the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) told India Today.
The
cough syrup was sent for testing
after the drug was linked to the deaths of two children and several cases of illness in Rajasthan in the past two weeks.
In fact, a doctor at a government hospital in Bharatpur, who consumed the syrup to prove it was safe, also fell ill and experienced adverse symptoms.
In neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, nine children have died of kidney failure allegedly after consuming the cough syrup in Chhindwara district.
Separate investigations are being conducted
by the drug authorities of the states.
Meanwhile, sources in the Union Health Ministry said the blood reports of nearly 500 people were found negative for any infectious disease in Madhya Pradesh.
The tests were conducted by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), which analysed water, entomological, and drug samples over the past week.
