Over 1,000 sickened with vaping-related illnesses, CDC says
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday that 1,080 confirmed and probable cases of illnesses related to vaping have been reported in 48 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The CDC said at least 18 deaths have been confirmed in 15 states, and another state, Connecticut, reported the 19th death a short time later. More deaths remain under investigation.
The first illnesses occurred in late March. Recently, 200 or more cases have been reported each week. Only Alaska and New Hampshire have yet to report cases.
Doctors say the illnesses resemble an inhalation injury. Symptoms include severe shortness of breath, fatigue and chest pain.
A new report from the Mayo Clinic finds that whatever these e-cigarette users inhaled burned their lungs with chemicals as toxic as an industrial accident.
The lung damage seems "similar to what one might see with exposures to toxic chemical fumes, poisonous gases and toxic agents," said Brandon Larsen, M.D., Ph.D., a surgical pathologist at Mayo Clinic Arizona. He and his colleagues studied the biopsies of 17 patients with vaping-related illnesses.
Some patients in the study only vaped nicotine, while more inhaled THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. "I am very concerned by the severity of injury that we see in those patients who survive and recover in the short term, may have long term consequences from this," Larsen said.
While law enforcement has been seizing illicit vaping products, the black market is a lucrative business. In recent months, police in Milwaukee arrested one alleged dealer who claimed he was making up to $2 million a month selling THC cartridges on the street.
So far, officials have not identified a particular electronic cigarette, vaping device, liquid or ingredient behind the outbreak. But most who got sick said they vaped products containing THC.
Delaware announced the state's first vaping-related death on Thursday. Officials said Thursday that an individual with a history of exposure to vaping died in August after a lengthy hospitalization. They refused to release details on the cause of death or the person's age, gender and county of residence.
Officials said there are three other confirmed cases of vaping-related lung illness in Delaware, and seven additional probable cases. The average age of the patients is 29.
Only one of the 11 cases involves nicotine-only exposure. The others involve THC, the main psychoactive compound in marijuana, or a combination of THC and nicotine.
In New Jersey, a task force set up by Governor Chris Murphy recommended Thursday that the state move to ban flavored e-cigarettes. Murphy, a Democrat, unveiled the task force's recommendations three weeks after he established it and soon after the state announced its first death associated with vaping.
Most of the recommendations, including banning the sales of flavored e-cigarettes, will require legislation, he said.
"Our overriding conclusion is that electronic smoking devices pose a threat to public health particularly the health and wellbeing of our youth," acting New Jersey Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said.
New York and several other states and municipalities have also taken steps to ban flavored vaping products. Federal officials are pursuing similar restrictions designed to curb underage vaping, although they are expected to take more time.
No major e-cigarette company has been directly tied to the ailments, and federal investigators say most people affected by the lung problems report that they had vaped THC, the ingredient in marijuana that produces a high.
Among the other changes that Murphy is calling for include barring the online sale of e-cigarettes and vaping supplies as well as increasing penalties for retailers who knowingly sell to underage buyers.
Democratic Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin called the governor's plan "comprehensive and thorough," and said he'd work to craft legislation.
Democratic Senate President Steve Sweeney has called for a full ban on vaping. A message was left with his office on Murphy's proposals.
Persichilli said among the things the state can do without legislation would be increasing the number of inspectors who go into vape shops to ensure that laws are being followed. She said the number would go up from eight inspectors currently to 20.
In New Jersey, there are 32 reports under investigation and 14 confirmed or probable cases of illness tied to vaping, according to the health commissioner.
The median age of those affected is 20, with ages ranging from 15 to 51.
Dean Reynolds contributed to this report.