Following the deaths of six children in Cameroon in April this year, the government, with support from the WHO, traced the toxin responsible to cough syrup sold under the trade name Naturcold.

While the origins of the company are yet to be traced, the toxin responsible for the contamination has been identified.

28% Diethylene glycol, as opposed to the permitted 0.1%, is reported to be the contaminant responsible.

Pharmaceutical experts explained that when the price of propylene glycol increased in 2021, many manufacturers substituted it with a cheaper but toxic alternative, diethylene glycol, which has caused many such poisonings across the world.