Cameroon’s Minister of Public Health, Dr Manaouda Malachie has issued a stringent warning concerning three brands of cough syrup identified as contaminated and dangerous. The alert was triggered by a formal Medical Product Alert from the World Health Organization (WHO).
In the Minister’s statement released through his social media account, he declared, “I wish to inform the public that according to the WHO Medical Product Alert, three substandard syrups under the names of COLDDRIF, RESPIFRESH TR, and ReLife were identified in India on 8 October 2025.” These products, which are intended to relieve coughs and colds in children, were found to be seriously compromised. The Minister confirmed that, following analysis, the syrups “have been declared contaminated by a substance highly toxic to the body.”
He concluded with a firm instruction to the public, saying, “Furthermore, after taking all necessary measures at our level, I would like to invite everyone to be more vigilant and, where applicable, to immediately stop using the said products, and to contact the dedicated services of the Ministry of Public Health.”
The contaminated products named are Coldrif, manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceutical Manufacturer; Respifresh TR, produced by Rednex Pharmaceuticals; and ReLife, made by Shape Pharma. Laboratory analyses revealed that these syrups, particularly the Coldrif brand, contain dangerously high levels of diethylene glycol (DEG), a toxic industrial solvent. The substance is known to be highly harmful to humans, especially children. Indian authorities have since suspended the manufacturing licences of the involved companies, with the owner of Sresan Pharmaceuticals arrested in connection with the deaths of at least 19 children in India’s Chhindwara district.
The health risks associated with diethylene glycol contamination are severe. Medical experts warn that ingestion can lead to a range of acute symptoms, including abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, an inability to pass urine, headaches, and an altered mental state. The most critical consequence is acute kidney injury, which is often fatal. The WHO has emphasised that these substandard products pose a significant threat and can cause severe, life-threatening illness.
Although Indian regulators have stated that none of the contaminated medicines were officially exported, the WHO has advised increased vigilance, particularly regarding informal and unregulated supply chains where such products may circulate undetected. This incident echoes previous global tragedies involving toxic syrups, which have led to child deaths in countries including The Gambia and Uzbekistan.
The Ministry of Public Health has advised all consumers to immediately cease using any of the identified products and to safely dispose of them. Healthcare professionals and pharmacists are urged to increase vigilance within their supply chains and to remove these syrups from shelves immediately. The public is instructed to report any sightings of these products to the dedicated services of the Ministry of Public Health, reinforcing the Minister’s closing commitment: “Our commitment is your health.”
