By: Hanna Stock and Lillian Griffith
An outbreak of a deadly vaping-related lung disease has sickened 530 people and killed eight, federal health officials said, adding that investigators have not found a cause.
Health officials shared a few details on what exactly is making people sick and are encouraging people to quit vaping according to their investigation. More than half of the people who have fallen ill are younger than 25, with 16% of all the patients younger than 18, CDC principal deputy director Anne Schuchat said.
She urged people to give up e-cigarettes and other vaping products while the CDC investigates the cause.
“Until we know more, if you are concerned about specific health risks, CDC recommends you do not use e-cigarettes or vaping products,” Schuchat said.
Health officials are struggling to figure out what’s making people sick. Some patients are reluctant to disclose what they were vaping, especially THC, which is illegal in most states. People are using an array of products and no one product, brand or substance has been linked to all the cases.
However, the FDA’s e-cigarette ban could cost the leading e-cigarette maker Juul billions. Juul is the industry leader with a 75% share of the market and drives most of its sales from flavored nicotine pods.
“After hearing about all the deaths and illnesses from vaping it has terrified me and I threw away my vape,” 22-year-old Emery Munger said. “I’ve been vaping for a few years now and I’m so scared something could still happen to me.”
The trump administration is preparing to ban flavored e-cigarettes, U.S Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar told reporters.
“The Trump Administration is making it clear that we intend to clear the market of flavored e-cigarettes to reverse the deeply concerning epidemic of youth e-cigarette use that is impacting children, families, schools and communities,” Azar said in a statement. “We will not stand idly by as these products become an on-ramp to combustible cigarettes or nicotine addiction for a generation of youth.”
