Cough syrup deaths: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a medical product alert after India reported contamination in three oral liquid medicines used for the relief of cold and cough symptoms. The affected batches are COLDRIF, Respifresh TR and ReLife, manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceutical, Rednex Pharmaceuticals and Shape Pharma.
Indiaās Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) notified WHO on October 8, 2025 that testing had detected diethylene glycol (DEG) in at least three products. DEG is toxic when ingested and can be fatal. Toxic effects may include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, inability to pass urine, headache, altered mental state and acute kidney injury.
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Following the findings, state regulators ordered an immediate halt to production at the implicated manufacturing sites and suspended product authorisations. A recall of the contaminated syrups has been initiated. WHO said the identified products are considered substandard because they fail to meet quality standards and specifications.
CDSCO has informed WHO that there is no evidence of illegal export and that the contaminated medicines have not been shipped outside India. WHO has advised National Regulatory Authorities to consider targeted market surveillance, with particular attention to informal and unregulated supply chains where products may circulate undetected. Authorities were also urged to assess the risks associated with any oral liquid medicines originating from the same manufacturing sites, especially those produced since December 2024.
The alert followed information WHO identified on September 30, 2025 about local clusters of acute illness and child fatalities in India. According to CDSCO, the contaminated products were reportedly consumed by the affected children.
WHO said it is working with Indian health authorities to monitor the situation, identify the source of contamination and mitigate public-health risks. The agency warned that the contaminated syrups are unsafe, especially for children, and may cause severe and potentially life-threatening illness.
Health professionals, regulators and the public have been asked to report detections of substandard products and any adverse events to national pharmacovigilance centres. The WHO reiterated that medical products should be sourced only from authorised suppliers and that relevant information can be shared with the organisation via its rapid alert channel.
