South Asia

Dubious vitamin drive: A committee investigating reports of deaths and illnesses following a nationwide
campaign promoting vitamin A and de-worming medicines in Bangladesh said the tablets were safe. The government had launched the
investigation after two children died and 400 fell sick soon after consuming the tablets. Some 20 million children received Vitamin A capsules
and 19 million were given de-worming tablets in early June. The Dhaka offices of the World Health Organization and Unicef, which supported
Bangladesh in the campaign, said both Vitamin A capsules and de-worming tablets (albendazole) used during the campaign were bought from
approved pharmaceutical companies. The government is now waiting for the report from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA,
where more samples have been sent.