(Reuters) – Deaths from a mysterious lung illness linked to e-cigarettes rose to 25 across 21 U.S. states, with Utah on Wednesday confirming the state’s first death. (http://bit.ly/2M1XFUl)
Latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) listed 1,080 confirmed and probable cases of the illness as of Oct. 1. The agency is due to update the national numbers later on Thursday. (http://bit.ly/2IlMmo5)
CDC last month urged people to not use e-cigarettes with marijuana ingredient tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), saying that the high-inducing component may have a role in causing the illness.
Here’s what we know about the vaping-related deaths so far:
** States that have reported deaths: Alabama, California (2), Delaware, Florida, Georgia (2), Illinois, Indiana, Kansas (2), Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, Oregon (2), Virginia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, and Utah.
** About 70% of the 889 patients, on whom data is available, are male, with 16% below 18 years of age, according to the CDC.
** Data shows all reported patients have a history of e-cigarette use or vaping.
** Patients have reported symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath or chest pain, as well as nausea or diarrhea, according to the CDC.
** Washington governor Jay Inslee last month urged state agencies to ban flavored and cannabis-derived vaping products and said more stringent rules could follow.
** A federal judge last week denied the industry’s bid to put a hold on Massachusetts’ four-month ban, saying a temporary restraining order on the ban would conflict with the public interest.
** New York state, Michigan and Rhode Island have all banned the sale of flavored vaping products.
** Kroger Co, Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc and Walmart Inc have said they would stop selling e-cigarettes at their stores.
** Chinese e-commerce firm Alibaba Group Holding Ltd said it will stop selling e-cigarette components in the United States.
(Reporting by Manojna Maddipatla and Manas Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D’Silva and Sriraj Kalluvila)
