The Gambia ordered importers and pharmacies to stop selling all brands of paracetamol syrup on Tuesday as the government investigates a possible link between the drug and the deaths of dozens of children, Reuters reported.

Last Thursday, the West African country’s health chief said he had launched an investigation after an increase in cases of acute kidney injury among children under the age of five was found in late July.

The medicines regulator, known as the Medicines Control Agency (MCA), said there was not enough data to justify a blanket ban on syrups containing the active ingredient paracetamol, a painkiller often used to bring down fevers in children.

The children experienced symptoms such as inability to urinate, fever and vomiting, which quickly led to kidney failure.

He did not name specific brands, but said some samples were sent overseas for quality control.

Last week, World Health Organization officials said evidence would point to an infectious origin, such as contaminated water, rather than paracetamol, but stressed there were many unanswered questions.

The Gambian government is investigating whether the deaths of dozens of young children from kidney failure in recent months are linked to the syrup.