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Panama: Death toll hits 48 from tainted medicine

The Associated Press

PANAMA CITY, Panama — Three more people have died after using contaminated medicine in Panama, bringing the total number of killed to 48, the country’s health officials said Tuesday.

Three most recent deaths from the tainted cough syrup, antihistamine tablets, calamine lotion and rash ointment occurred between Nov. 27 and Dec. 4, a government statement said. Officials said the deaths were not the result of fresh poisonings but were of people hospitalized earlier.

Dozens have been sickened by the contaminated medications, which were produced by Panama’s national health system and contained a chemical cousin of antifreeze, diethylene glycol. Of the reported cases, 12 people remain hospitalized.

The toxic medicine causes kidney and neurological damage. The majority of the deaths have occurred in people with a history of high blood pressure, diabetes or kidney problems.

Authorities have detained three people from the company Medicom S.A., which sold to the government the contaminated ingredients used to make the medicine. Three people from the government laboratories that produced the medications have also been detained. All are charged with endangering public health.

Prosecutors say Medicom sold the government labs glycerin intended for industrial use and altered the ingredient’s labels, changing the 2004 expiration date to 2007.