世卫组织就印度“毒糖浆”发出全球警告

Core Points - The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a global alert regarding three cough syrups produced in India, warning of serious health risks associated with these products [1] - The syrups in question are "Coldrif" from Sresan Pharmaceuticals, "Respifresh TR" from Rednex Pharmaceuticals, and "ReLife" from Shape Pharma, which may lead to severe illness or death [1] - Testing revealed that the content of diethylene glycol (DEG) in these syrups exceeded the permissible limit by nearly 500 times, posing a significant health threat [1] Summary by Sections Health Risks - The WHO has raised concerns about the health risks posed by the contaminated cough syrups, which have been linked to the deaths of at least 20 children in India [1][2] - Symptoms observed in affected children included fever, vomiting, and difficulty urinating, leading to fatalities [1] Regulatory Actions - Indian authorities have arrested the head of Sresan Pharmaceuticals, and the company's production license will be permanently revoked [2] - Several local governments have banned the use of the implicated cough syrups, with new regulations prohibiting the use of any cough or cold syrups for children under two years old [2] Export and Distribution Concerns - The Indian drug regulatory agency reported that the contaminated syrups have not been exported, and no evidence of illegal exports has been found [1] - The WHO expressed concern that such problematic products could enter other countries through informal channels [1]