Investigation of Lung Injury Associated with E-cigarette Product Use, or Vaping

Today the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to enhance the inter-agency response to the current investigation into cases of lung injury associated with e-cigarette product use, or vaping.

“CDC has made it a priority to find out what is causing this outbreak of e-cigarette or vaping-related injuries and deaths,” said CDC Director Robert Redfield, M.D. “Activation of CDC’s Emergency Operations Center allows us to enhance operations and provide additional support to CDC staff working to protect our Nation from this serious health threat.”

CDC’s activation of the EOC allows the agency to provide increased operational support for the response to meet the outbreak’s evolving challenges. Agency subject matter experts will continue to lead the CDC response with enhanced support from additional CDC and EOC staff.

CDC also continues to work closely with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to collect information about recent e-cigarette product use, or vaping, among patients and to test the substances or chemicals within e-cigarette products used by case patients.

While this investigation is ongoing, if individuals are concerned about these specific health risks, they should consider refraining from using e-cigarette or vaping products.

For information about the collection of e-cigarettes or vaping products for possible testing by FDA, contact: FDAVapingSampleInquiries@fda.hhs.gov.

To communicate with CDC about this public health response, clinicians and health officials can contact: LungDiseaseOutbreak@cdc.gov.

For more information on the current outbreak related to e-cigarettes (vaping), visit: https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/severe-lung-disease.html

For general information on electronic cigarette products, or vaping, visit:
www.cdc.gov/e-cigarettes.

For more information:

Safety Reporting Portal for Tobacco Products

Severe Pulmonary Disease Associated with Using E-Cigarette Products

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

CDC works 24/7 protecting America’s health, safety and security. Whether disease start at home or abroad, are curable or preventable, chronic or acute, or from human activity or deliberate attack, CDC responds to America’s most pressing health threats. CDC is headquartered in Atlanta and has experts located throughout the United States and the world.