WHO confirms deadly cough syrup on sale in Cameroon!.

The ban is contained in a note the global health organisation made public July 19.

In the note titled: “Medical Product Alert N05/2023: Substandard (contaminated) syrup medicines”, the WHO indicated that NATURCOLD syrup was first identified in Cameroon on March 13, 2023. It said a complaint had been made to their office in that direction.

Since the complaint, the organisation said, it has taken precautions to verify the information contained in the alert. 

In the meantime, the WHO said more information will be devolved to the public about the syrup as time goes on.

NATURCOLD, the global health organisation stated, contains active ingredients like Paracetamol, Phenylphrine hydrochloride and chlorpheniramine maleate. 

According to WHO, the three ingredients are combined to relieve symptoms associated with the common cold, flu and allergic rhinitis.

The WHO also disclosed that samples of the syrup were made available to their office on June 27 and analysis have been made in established facilities. 

“The analysis found that the product contains unacceptable amounts of diethylene glycol as contaminants. Diethylene glycol was detected in samples of NATURCOLD as much as 28.6%. The acceptable limit for Diethylene Glycol is not more than 0.10%,” the note stated.

The same organisation added that: “Diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol are toxic to humans when consumed and can prove fatal”, before detailing that they are unsafe with their use having the risk of severe injury or death especially in children. 

The toxic effects, the organisation added, include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, inability to pass urine, headache, altered mental state and acute kidney injury which may lead to death.

The WHO identifies FRAKEN International in England as the manufacturer but the United Kingdom National Regulatory Authority has denied knowledge of the existence of such a company.

The WHO has advised regulatory authorities to take firm action in ensuring the products are removed from the market.

It has also called on the Cameroonian public to shun using the syrup. For those who have administered the syrup to their children and are seeing some side effects, the health organisation has directed them to seek medical help.

The organisation has, in the meantime, also called for increased surveillance within the health system. Medics in the country have been directed to report any suspicious cases of adverse events linked to the use of contaminated medicines to competent institutions.

It is worth mentioning that Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, had alerted Nigerians about the circulation of the same cough syrup, in the month of April.