Severe Lung Illnesses Double, CDC Urges: Stop Vaping

The New York Times reports:

Medical experts and federal health officials on Friday warned the public about the dangers of vaping and discouraged using the devices as the number of people with a severe lung illness linked to vaping has more than doubled to 450 possible cases in 33 states. State officials reported two deaths, bringing the number of confirmed fatalities to four.

The Indiana Department of Health announced the third death, saying only that the victim was older than 18. Hours later, officials in Minnesota confirmed that a fourth person had died. The patient, who was 65, had a history of lung disease, but state officials said his acute lung injury was linked to “vaping illicit T.H.C. products.”

“There is clearly an epidemic that begs for an urgent response,” Dr. David C. Christiani of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health wrote in an editorial published on Friday in The New England Journal of Medicine.

The CDC is right: if you’re vaping or know someone who is, please stop now. People are dying and we need to figure out why, including if any of these companies are breaking the law. Protect yourself & the folks you love. Stop vaping now.https://t.co/viH1EfOKkf

— Attorney General Keith Ellison (@AGEllison) September 6, 2019

The CDC says people should consider not using e-cigarette products, as it investigates a third death from a mysterious vaping illness https://t.co/nfpdo34ksz

— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) September 6, 2019