At least 18 kids have died in Uzbekistan after consuming a medicinal syrup manufactured by Indian drugmaker Marion Biotech, based on the Uzbek Health Ministry.

The ministry mentioned 18 out of 21 kids who took the Doc-1 Max syrup whereas affected by an acute respiratory illness died after consuming it. It is marketed on the corporate’s web site as a remedy for chilly and flu signs.

A batch of the syrup contained ethylene glycol, which the ministry mentioned was a poisonous substance. The syrup was imported into Uzbekistan by Quramax Medical, the ministry mentioned in its assertion launched Tuesday.

It additionally mentioned the syrup was given to kids at dwelling and not using a physician’s prescription, both by their dad and mom or on the recommendation of pharmacists, with doses that exceeded the usual dose for youngsters.

It was not instantly clear whether or not all or any of the youngsters had consumed the suspect batch or had consumed greater than the usual dose, or each.

Marion Biotech, Quramax Medical and India’s Health Ministry didn’t instantly reply to a Reuters request searching for remark. An Indian authorities supply instructed Reuters the Health Ministry was trying into the matter.

India had on Tuesday launched an inspection of some drug factories throughout the nation to make sure prime quality requirements.

The Uzbek incident follows the same one in The Gambia, the place the deaths of at the very least 70 kids have been blamed on cough and cold syrups made by New Delhi-based Maiden Pharmaceuticals. Both India’s authorities and the corporate have denied the medicines have been at fault.

India is called the “pharmacy of the world” and its prescription drugs exports have greater than doubled over the previous decade to $24.5 billion previously fiscal yr.

The Uzbek Health Ministry mentioned it had dismissed seven staff for negligence for not analyzing the deaths in a well timed method and never taking the mandatory measures. It mentioned it had taken disciplinary measures towards some “specialists,” with out specifying what function the specialists had.

It can be withdrawing the Doc-1 Max tablets and syrups from all pharmacies.