Health Alert: The Gambia, Recall of Contaminated Children's Medication

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 4^th 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.
• Please follow the Gambian Medicines Control Agency’s instructions.
• 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 Banjul, The Gambia
• Phone number:  +220 439-2856, ext. 1341
• Email address:  ConsularBanjul@state.gov
• The Gambia country information
• State Department – Consular Affairs
• 888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444
• Read The Gambia country information page