At least 70 children in Gambia, most under 5 years old, died from acute kidney injury between June and October. Tests by the WHO found that the Maiden cough syrups contained the lethal toxins diethylene glycol (DEG) and ethylene glycol (EG), used in car brake fluid. Indian officials have said the WHO failed to prove a causal link to the Gambia deaths, accusing the agency of denigrating its $41 billion pharmaceutical industry. However, cough syrups made by a second Indian drugmaker have been linked to the deaths of 19 children in Uzbekistan. India has since made drug testing mandatory for cough syrups before export.

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Persons: Sagnia, Lamin, Edward McAllister, Dawda Jallow, Jallow, syrups, Maiden, Adama Barrow, Dawda, Shilpa Jamkhandikar, Sara Ledwith, Michele Gershberg, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Reuters, World Health Organization, WHO, Maiden Pharmaceuticals, EG, World Bank, Thomson Locations: Serekunda, Gambia, BANJUL, India, Uzbekistan