India has halted production at a pharmaceutical company based near New Delhi whose cough syrup was linked to the deaths of 19 children in Uzbekistan, its health minister said on Friday.
Uzbekistan said this week that at least 18 children had died in the southeastern city of Samarkand after consuming Marion Biotech’s Doc-1 Max syrup. On Thursday, Uzbek media reported a 19th victim, a one-year-old child, in nearby Kashkadaryo.
Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Health stated that the syrup contained a toxic substance, ethylene glycol, and was given to children in amounts higher than the standard dose, either by their parents, who took it for an anti-cold remedy or Took on the advice of the pharmacist.
Indian Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said all production at Marion Biotech’s unit in Noida, outside Delhi, has been suspended.