Zimbabwe, Rwanda, and Tanzania join the African cough syrup recall for Johnson & Johnson.

A batch of Johnson & Johnson children’s cough medication has been withdrawn by drug regulators in Tanzania, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe as a precaution after its Nigerian equivalent reported that laboratory tests revealed significant levels of toxicity.

The same batch of syrup, which is used to treat children’s coughs, hay fever, and other allergic responses, is being recalled by these nations along with Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa. Another batch has also been recalled by South Africa.

Diethylene glycol, which has been connected to the deaths of numerous children in the Gambia, Uzbekistan, and Cameroon since 2022 in one of the biggest outbreaks of drug poisoning in history, was detected in significant concentrations in the syrup during laboratory testing conducted by Nigeria’s health regulator.

When ingested by humans, diethylene glycol is poisonous and can cause acute renal failure.

The recalled batch of Benylin Paediatric syrup was produced in South Africa by J&J in May 2021; however, after a spin-off from J&J last year, Kenvue currently owns the brand.

Following its learning of the Nigerian test results, Tanzania’s Medicines and Medical Devices Authority (TMDA) declared that the recall had started on April 12.

According to TMDA spokesman Gaudensia Simwanza, “this is an exercise that does not involve investigation but rather monitoring to ensure that those affected drugs are removed from the market,” she said in a statement to Reuters on Monday.

According to a representative for Kenya’s drug control agency, the syrup’s test results should be available on Wednesday.

The Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority stated in a statement dated April 12 that “a review of our safety database doesn’t reveal any adverse events reported.”

“However, Rwanda FDA issues the present recall for precautionary measures.”

Zimbabwe’s Medicines Control Agency stated that although it did not have a record of the product’s importation, it was worried the syrup would inadvertently make its way onto the local market. It promised to increase inspections just in case.

In a statement, Kenvue stated that in order to decide on a course of action, it was carrying out its own assessment and collaborating with health authorities.