India, Oct. 14 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued an alert against the use of three cough syrups - Coldrif, Respifresh TR and ReLife - following the deaths of dozens of children in India despite India's drugs regulator confirming that none of the syrups was exported, even illegally, the UN health body said in a statement.

"On October 8, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) of India reported to WHO the presence of diethylene glycol (DEG) in at least three oral liquid medicines. This followed information, identified by WHO on 30 September 2025, of localised clusters of acute illness and child fatalities in India. CDSCO informed WHO that the contaminated products were reportedly consumed by the affected chi...