Possible cases of severe lung illnesses tied to vaping reaches 450; third death reported

Federal and state health officials are investigating 450 possible cases of severe lung illnesses, including more deaths, linked to e-cigarettes — more than double from what was reported last week.

Indiana reported Friday its first vaping-related death, adding to the two deaths already reported in Illinois and Oregon. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said another death is currently under investigation.

Thirty-three states and one territory have reported cases so far.

Questions about the cause behind these lung illnesses are still unanswered, but investigators believe chemical exposure might play a role. No specific product or substance has been connected to all of the cases.

“While the investigation is ongoing, the CDC has advised that individuals consider not using e-cigarettes, because as of right now, this is the primary means of preventing this severe lung disease,” said Dana Meaney-Delman, incident manager of the CDC 2019 Lung Injury Response.

She stressed that e-cigarettes contain a variety of chemicals and additives and are never safe for youth, pregnant women and young adults.

Many patients with vaping-related lung illnesses are exhibiting similar symptoms such as breathing problems, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss and fatigue. In more severe cases, patients needed to be hooked up to a mechanical ventilator.

A cluster of patients in North Carolina have even been diagnosed with a rare condition called lipoid pneumonia, which occurs when oils or fat-containing substances enter the lungs, said Daniel Fox, pulmonologist for WakeMed Health and Hospitals. He said patients needed oxygen administered to them and had irregular chest x-rays. Inhaling THC through e-cigarettes was common among patients, and most patients used nicotine-based products as well.

Dr. Fox said vaping cartridges bought off the street, whose substances are unclear, are not safe and pose health risks. He said physicians need to consider non-infectious types of pneumonia and inquire about vaping as part of patients’ medical histories.

He described e-cigarettes as just an “alternative way of delivering substances,” and said they are not being used as a way to get off of traditional cigarettes.

As investigations continue, health officials are also reminding e-cigarette users to not buy vaping products off the street or to modify them.

The FDA is currently testing more than 120 samples from vaping products and looking at a broad range of substances including nicotine, cannabinoids such as THC, pesticides, opioids, poisons and toxins, said Mitch Zeller, director of the agency’s Center for Tobacco Products.

The CDC and the FDA are also encouraging the public to submit detailed reports of any unexpected health or product issues linked to tobacco or e-cigarette products to www.safetyreporting.hhs.gov.