(Reuters) – U.S. health officials are investigating a mysterious lung illness linked to e-cigarettes that has led to 18 deaths across 15 states.
Latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Thursday listed 1,080 confirmed and probable cases of the illness as of Oct. 1. (http://bit.ly/2IlMmo5)
The agency last week 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, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas (2), Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, Oregon (2), and Virginia.
** Nearly 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 week urged state agencies to ban flavored and cannabis-derived vaping products and said more stringent rules could follow
** Massachusetts has imposed a four-month ban on sales of all vaping products, including those used for marijuana, which is legal in the state
** Several vape shop owners have sued Massachusetts, asking the court to deem the ban “unconstitutional.”
** New York state, Michigan and Rhode Island have all banned the sale of flavored vaping products
(Reporting by Manojna Maddipatla and Manas Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D’Silva and Sriraj Kalluvila)
