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Malaria drugs recalled in Kenya | Malaria drugs recalled in Kenya |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A Chinese pharmaceutical firm plans to recall thousands of anti-malarial drugs supplied to Kenya after discovering a counterfeit syndicate. | A Chinese pharmaceutical firm plans to recall thousands of anti-malarial drugs supplied to Kenya after discovering a counterfeit syndicate. |
The vice-president of Holley-Cotec Pharmaceuticals said 20,000 doses of Duo-cotecxin will be removed from sale. | The vice-president of Holley-Cotec Pharmaceuticals said 20,000 doses of Duo-cotecxin will be removed from sale. |
He told the BBC an analysis of the counterfeit product showed it had very low active ingredients and patients taking it would not be cured. | He told the BBC an analysis of the counterfeit product showed it had very low active ingredients and patients taking it would not be cured. |
An estimated 35,000 people die of malaria in Kenya each year. | An estimated 35,000 people die of malaria in Kenya each year. |
Duo-cotecxin is one of the artemisinin-based combination therapy drugs highly recommended by World Health Organization to treat malaria and is widely supplied in government and private hospitals in Kenya. | Duo-cotecxin is one of the artemisinin-based combination therapy drugs highly recommended by World Health Organization to treat malaria and is widely supplied in government and private hospitals in Kenya. |
A full dose of Duo-cotecxin costs about $5 in Kenya, the counterfeited drug is being sold for less than $1. | |
New technology | New technology |
The Ministry of Health has been spearheading a campaign to crack down on counterfeit drugs that are readily available in the Kenyan market. | The Ministry of Health has been spearheading a campaign to crack down on counterfeit drugs that are readily available in the Kenyan market. |
Dr Willy Akwale, who heads the government anti-malaria control unit, said this is the first case of a counterfeit supply of artemisinin combination therapy drugs. | Dr Willy Akwale, who heads the government anti-malaria control unit, said this is the first case of a counterfeit supply of artemisinin combination therapy drugs. |
"There have been many counterfeits on the sulphur-based anti-malaria drugs before, forcing us to have difficulties in countering the disease," Dr Akwale told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme. | "There have been many counterfeits on the sulphur-based anti-malaria drugs before, forcing us to have difficulties in countering the disease," Dr Akwale told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme. |
Eric Law, Holley-Cotec Pharmaceuticals' vice-president, said they are yet to locate the source of the counterfeits, but there is strong evidence linking the supplies to Asia. | Eric Law, Holley-Cotec Pharmaceuticals' vice-president, said they are yet to locate the source of the counterfeits, but there is strong evidence linking the supplies to Asia. |
"We are now going to introduce a new technology to tamper-proof the doses that will be supplied to replace the withdrawn drugs," Mr Law told the BBC News Website. | "We are now going to introduce a new technology to tamper-proof the doses that will be supplied to replace the withdrawn drugs," Mr Law told the BBC News Website. |
Health officials warn of a global health catastrophe if a growing trade in fake anti-malarial drugs leads to widespread resistance. | Health officials warn of a global health catastrophe if a growing trade in fake anti-malarial drugs leads to widespread resistance. |
Sophisticated trans-national gangs are thought to be behind the counterfeit drugs, a fast-growing multibillion dollar business. | Sophisticated trans-national gangs are thought to be behind the counterfeit drugs, a fast-growing multibillion dollar business. |
Meanwhile, the Kenyan government said on Thursday that there has been a dramatic rise in the number of children sleeping under insecticide treated mosquito nets. | Meanwhile, the Kenyan government said on Thursday that there has been a dramatic rise in the number of children sleeping under insecticide treated mosquito nets. |
It said that a two-year campaign to provide nets at subsidised prices has resulted in more than two-thirds of under five-year-olds sleeping under them. | It said that a two-year campaign to provide nets at subsidised prices has resulted in more than two-thirds of under five-year-olds sleeping under them. |
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