MUMBAI: Indian authorities on Wednesday halted production at a pharmaceutical factory under investigation over the deaths of 66 children in The Gambia, according to local media.

The World Health Organisation last week warned that four cough and cold remedies manufactured by Maiden Pharmaceuticals in the northern state of Haryana could cause acute kidney injury.

Laboratory testing found “unacceptable amounts” of potentially life-threatening contaminants, the WHO said, adding that the products may have been distributed beyond the West African country.

“We have ordered that all drug production at this unit be stopped with immediate effect,” Haryana state health minister Anil Vij was quoted as telling Indian news agency PTI on Wednesday.

The minister added that a preliminary inspection found 12 violations at Maiden’s facility in the town of Kundli, about 40 kilometres from the capital New Delhi.

Maiden Pharmaceuticals director Naresh Goyal has reportedly denied the deaths were caused by cough syrups produced at his company.

“The deaths have been due to paracetamol syrup and not due to our cough syrups,” he told India’s Economic Times newspaper. Police in The Gambia on Saturday said they were launching their own investigation into the children’s deaths.

Published in Dawn, October 13th, 2022