India halts cough syrup production over child death

Indian authorities have halted production of cough syrup at a factory of Maiden Pharmaceuticals, a state minister said, after a World Health Organization (WHO) report said the medicine may be linked to deaths of dozens of children in Gambia.

The health minister in Haryana state, Anil Vij, on Wednesday said the authorities inspected the factory near the town of Sonipat in the state and found 12 violations of good practices.

Vij said Production was ordered stopped.

Gambian police, in a preliminary investigation report on Tuesday, said the deaths of 69 children from acute kidney injury were linked to the cough syrups made in India and imported via a United States-based company.