KIGALI, April 15 (Reuters) - Drug regulators in Tanzania

and Rwanda have recalled a batch of Johnson & Johnson ( JNJ )

children's cough syrup as a precautionary measure after their

Nigerian counterpart said laboratory tests found high levels of

toxicity.

The East African neighbours join Nigeria, Kenya and South

Africa in recalling the same batch of the syrup, which is used

to treat coughs, hay fever and other allergic reactions in

children. South Africa has also recalled an additional batch.

Laboratory tests on the syrup by Nigeria's health regulator

showed a high level of diethylene glycol, which has been linked

to the deaths of dozens of children in Gambia, Uzbekistan and

Cameroon since 2022 in one of the world's worst waves of

poisoning from oral medication.

The batch recalled was made by J&J in South Africa in May

2021, although Kenvue ( KVUE ) now owns the Benylin Paediatric

syrup brand after a spin-off from J&J last year.

Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority (TMDA) said

they had begun the recall on April 12 after hearing about the

Nigerian test results.

"This is an exercise that does not involve investigation but

rather monitoring to ensure that those affected drugs are

removed from the market," TMDA spokesperson Gaudensia Simwanza

told Reuters on Monday.

"A review of our safety database doesn't reveal any adverse

events reported," the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority said in a

statement dated April 12. "However, Rwanda FDA issues the

present recall for precautionary measures."

Kenvue ( KVUE ) said in a statement that it was conducting its own

assessment and working with health authorities to determine a

course of action.