WHO Issues New Health Alert over Tainted Cough Syrup Sold in Iraq

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning about a batch of tainted cough syrup discovered in Iraq and made by an Indian pharmaceutical business.

In a statement, WHO said: "A sample of the COLD OUT syrup was collected from a single location in Iraq and sent to a laboratory for analysis." As pollutants, the sample had prohibited levels of diethylene glycol (0.25%) and ethylene glycol (2.1%). The accepted safety level for both ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol is 0.10%."

According to the UN body, both the manufacturer and marketer, Dabilife Pharma Pvt Ltd, India, failed to give WHO assurances about the product's safety and quality.

“To date, the stated manufacturer and the marketer have not provided guarantees to WHO on the safety and quality of the product," WHO said.

In response, WHO has directed all healthcare professionals to promptly report any suspicious or confirmed cases of adverse events linked to the use of contaminated drug product to the national regulatory authorities and national pharmaco-vigilance center.