Gambia: Authorities hire US lawyers over syrup scandal

Reuters reports that the Gambia has hired a US law firm to consider legal action, after a government-funded investigation found that contaminated medicine imported from India were “very likely” to have caused the deaths of at least 70 children.

Justice Minister Dawda Jallow did not tell the news agency which entity they would make the claim against, not did Mr Jallow reveal the name of the law firm hired.

Reuters says the makers of the cough syrup, Maiden Pharmaceuticals, have denied any wrongdoing.

The Indian government says it found no toxins when it tested the medicines.

Yet tests by the WHO showed that the cough syrups contained two lethal toxins usually found in car break fluid.