Allegheny Co. Health Dept.: 13 Cases Of Suspected Severe Lung Disease Linked To Vaping Under Investigation
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Multiple health organizations are investigating more than a dozen cases of suspected severe lung disease linked to e-cigarettes.
The Allegheny County Department of Health's Chief Epidemiologist and Deputy Director Dr. LuAnn Brink said they, along with the CDC and Pennsylvania State Department of Health, are investigating 13 suspected cases of severe pulmonary disease associated with vaping.
We spoke with a vape shop on the South Side that says if you use cheap products or stuff off the street it can be dangerous. They claim vaping can be safe if you buy the right products. pic.twitter.com/VP2OCEeQel
— Chris Hoffman (@NewsmanChris) September 10, 2019
The CDC has recently sent out a health alert, saying that 215 possible cases have been reported from 25 states in the U.S.
The ACHD warns people that there are dangers associated with using e-cigarette products.
"Parents should definitely be telling their kids and their teenagers not to vape and not to start it. It can be very addictive once they start, so they shouldn't even start and if they're doing it, they should stop," said Dr. Alison Morris, the UPMC Chief of Pulmonary and Critical Medicine.
They ask Allegheny County residents to stop buying vaping products off the street or adding any extra substances to e-cigarettes.
"It's not the vaping that's causing the problem, it's the Juuls, it's anything the cigarette company makes, especially the THC," said Gary McBurney, the co-owner of Vapor Galleria in the South Side.
According to him, it's cheap products from the street and Juuls that are dangerous.
He uses some of the vape products in his shop and feels comfortable with them because of their natural ingredients.
"Natural doesn't mean it's something that's natural to be in the lungs," said Dr. Morris.
Right now, they're not sure which products are causing the problems for young adults.
The ACHD advises anyone experiencing a cough, shortness of breath or chest pain to seek medical attention immediately.
