26 October 2022
Location: Country-wide
Event: Certain locally available children’s syrup medications are contaminated and should not be consumed. The Gambian Ministry of Health, with support from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), has been investigating an increase in cases of children with acute kidney injury. Testing of children’s syrup medications found that four types of medications were contaminated with diethylene glycol (DEG) and ethylene glycol (EG). Both DEG and EG are toxic and can be fatal if ingested. The four contaminated products are Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup, and Magrip N Cold Syrup.
On the 4th of October, the Gambian Medicines Control Agency released a safety alert to recall all Maiden Pharmaceuticals Ltd. products.
Actions to Take:
- To reduce the risk of harm, avoid taking or administering these medications.
- Dispose of all pharmaceuticals of concern.
- If a family member recently has taken any of the above-named child’s syrup medication immediately contact a medical provider.
- Review WHO Medical Product Alert No. 6/2022
Assistance:
U.S. Embassy Gaborone
+267 373-2222
ConsularGaborone@state.gov
State Department – Consular Affairs
888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444
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U.S. Embassy Gaborone
Embassy Drive, Government Enclave, Gaborone, Botswana
P.O. Box 90 Gaborone, Botswana
Tel: (+267) 373-2201
U.S. Citizen Services: (+267) 373-2322
After Hours Emergency (U.S. Citizens Only): (+267) 373-2222
Fax: (+267) 318-0232
Email: ConsularGaborone@State.Gov
