CDC Says Confirmed Vaping Deaths Now at 33

The CDC announced the updated number of confirmed and probable lung injury cases, deaths* associated with the use of e-cigarette, or vaping, products, and new laboratory testing on Thursday. Each category showed an increase.

Patients with Lung Injury

• As of October 15, 2019, 1,479 confirmed and probable lung injury cases associated with use of e-cigarette, or vaping, products were reported by 49 states (all except Alaska), the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
• Among 849 patients with information on substances used in e-cigarette, or vaping, products in the 3 months prior to symptom onset:
  • 78% reported using THC-containing products, with or without nicotine-containing products;
  • 31% reported exclusive use of THC-containing products;
  • 58% reported using nicotine-containing products, with or without THC-containing products; and
  • 10% reported exclusive use of nicotine-containing products.
• Among 1,358 patients with data on age and sex:
  • 70% of patients are male.
  • 79% of patients are under 35 years old.
  • The median age of patients is 23 years, and ages range from 13 to 75 years old.

Deaths

• 33 deaths have been confirmed in 24 states: Alabama, California (3), Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia (2), Illinois, Indiana (3), Kansas (2), Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota (3), Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Oregon (2), Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Virginia.
  • The median age of patients who have died is 44 years, ranging from 17 to 75 years old.

New Laboratory Testing at CDC

• CDC is now doing additional laboratory testing.
  • CDC is currently validating targeted methods to test chemicals in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, blood, or urine and has received initial samples for testing.
  • CDC is testing pathologic specimens, including lung biopsy or autopsy specimens, associated with patients.
  • CDC is also validating methods for aerosol emission testing of case-associated product samples from e-cigarette, or vaping, products and e-liquids. Initial data from product sample testing has guided the need for these additional assays.
  • Results may provide insight into the nature of the chemical exposure(s) contributing to this outbreak.

All information is direct from the CDC