The World Health Organization (WHO) has voiced "deep concern" over gaps in India's drug safety regulations, following the deaths of at least 20 children from contaminated cough syrups. It has also warned that such medicines could reach other countries through unregulated distribution channels. The deaths, reported from Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan states over the past month, have been linked to three cough syrups, samples of which have been found to contain diethylene glycol (DEG) - a toxic