The World Health Organization announced on Monday that a tainted batch of Benylin Pediatric Syrup is no longer available in the African nations where it was distributed.
Nigeria canceled a batch of children’s cough and allergy medication earlier this month after tests revealed it contained intolerable amounts of the toxin diethylene glycol.
The drug’s manufacturing nation of South Africa, along with Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and other five African nations, have also removed the medication from their shelves.
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N) produced the recalled batch of Benylin syrup in South Africa in May 2021; but, following a spin-off from J&J last year, Kenvue (KVUE.N) currently controls the brand.
Requests for comments have been forwarded to Kenvue by J&J. Kenvue announced it in an email statement on Friday.
it had carried out tests on the batch recalled by Nigeria and had not detected either diethylene or ethylene glycol, but was continuing to work with the authorities.
Since its discovery in medications manufactured in India and Indonesia in 2022, diethylene glycol, along with another related toxin, ethylene glycol, has been connected to the deaths of over 300 children in Cameroon, Gambia, Indonesia, and Uzbekistan. Diethylene glycol can cause acute kidney failure.
The most recent event is not believed to have injured or killed any youngsters.
The WHO, which has alerted nations and businesses to the continuous risk of contamination, said on Friday that it was “likely” to release a more comprehensive alert regarding benylin. The health service, however, announced on Monday that it no longer had any urgent plans to do so after obtaining additional information at the end of the week.
“We feel that there is no imminent public health concern, considering that this batch is no longer on the market in any of the afflicted countries and it has been consumed with no apparent reports of adverse effects,” an email from a spokesman stated.
(Reuters)
