WHO issues alert for Gambia cough medicines

Gambia has launched an urgent door-to-door campaign to remove cough and cold syrups blamed for the deaths of more than 60 children from kidney injury in the tiny West African country. The Director of Health confirmed the wave of child deaths from acute kidney injury, sending shockwaves across the country of 2.4 million people and around the world.

The U.N.'s World Health Organization has issued an alarm in response to the deaths, saying it had been working with Gambia's government to investigate the cause of the cases and deaths since August.

WHO Director-General said "WHO has issued a medical product alert for four contaminated medicines identified in The Gambia that have been potentially linked to acute kidney injuries and 66 deaths among children." The four medicines are cough and cold syrups produced by Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited in India, WHO said.