States Report 380 Cases of Lung Disease, 6 Deaths Linked to Vaping

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated the number of confirmed and probable cases of lung disease associated with e-cigarette product use, or vaping, to 380.

As of September 11, cases were reported by 36 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Six deaths have been confirmed in California, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota and Oregon.

The 380 cases of lung illness have been reported to CDC from the following states and one U.S. territory: AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MN, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WV, and USVI. These numbers may change frequently.

The new case count is the first national aggregate based on the new CDC case definition developed and shared with states in late August. The previous case count released by CDC was higher because it reported possible cases that were still under investigation by states. The current number includes only confirmed and probable cases reported by states to CDC after classification.

CDC said it is no longer reporting possible cases or cases under investigation and states have recently received the new CDC case definition to classify cases. The classification process requires medical record review and discussion with the treating healthcare providers. The current number is expected to increase as additional cases are classified.

Last week, New York public health officials sounded an alarm that mysterious lung illnesses around the country may be tied to an ingredient in cannabis-containing vapor products. The New York State Department of Health said it had identified 34 cases of severe lung illnesses in people who were using a cannabis-containing vape product, and that the products the department tested contained vitamin E acetate. Many had also used e-cigarette devices.

Vaping Lung Illness May Be Linked to Cannabis Product, Say Health Officials

The American Medical Association on Monday, following advice from the CDC, urged Americans to stop using electronic cigarettes of any sort until scientists have a better handle on the cause of 450 lung illnesses and at least five deaths related to the use of the products.

CDC said it is coordinating a multi-state investigation. In conjunction with a task force from the Council for State and Territorial Epidemiologists and affected states, States have been given interim outbreak surveillance case definitions, data collection tools, and a database to collect relevant patient data.

CDC also said it is working with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to collect information about recent e-cigarette product use, or vaping, among patients and to test the substances or chemicals within e-cigarette products used by case patients.

Related:

• Health Officials Report First Death They Believe Is Linked to Vaping
• States Questioning How Juul’s Vaping Device Became So Popular with Teens
• Vaping Firms Sue Seeking to Further Delay FDA Review of e-Cigarettes
• Vaping Lung Illness May Be Linked to Cannabis Product, Say Health Officials
• U.S. Investigating Lung Diseases Linked to e-Cigarettes