CDC, States Update Number of Cases of Lung Disease Associated with E-cigarette Use, or Vaping

CDC today announced the updated number of confirmed and probable lung injury cases and deaths associated with e-cigarette product use, or vaping.

Patients with Lung Injury

• As of October 1, 2019, 1,080 confirmed and probable lung injury cases associated with e-cigarette product use, or vaping, were reported by 48 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
  • The increase of 275 cases since last week is a combination of new patients becoming ill in the past two weeks and recent reporting of previously-identified patients.

• Among 578 patients with information on substances used in e-cigarette, or vaping, products in the 90 days prior to symptom onset:
  • About 78% reported using THC-containing products, with or without nicotine-containing products; 37% reported exclusive use of THC-containing products; and
  • 17% reported exclusive use of nicotine-containing products.
  • These percentages are consistent with previous reports.
• About 70% of patients are male.

• Approximately 80% of the patients are under 35 years old; 16% are under 18 years old.
  • The median age of patients is 23 years, ranging from 13 to 75 years old.

Deaths

• 18 deaths have been confirmed in 15 states: Alabama, California (2), Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas (2), Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, Oregon (2), and Virginia.
  • The median age of patients who have died is 50 years, ranging from 27 to 71 years old.

“The increasing number of lung injury cases we see associated with e-cigarette use, or vaping, is deeply concerning. Unfortunately, this may be the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the escalating health threat this outbreak poses to the American public, particularly youth and young adults. CDC will continue to work with FDA and state health partners to investigate the cause, or causes, of this outbreak and to bring an end to these lung injuries.” – Dr. Robert R. Redfield, MD, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For updates on this investigation, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/lunginjury.

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

For information about collection and submission of clinical specimens for possible testing by CDC, see CDC’s Healthcare Provider web page.

Clinicians and health officials who have questions about this outbreak can contact: LungDiseaseOutbreak@cdc.gov.

All others, including the general public, who have questions about this outbreak can contact CDC-INFO at 800-232-4636, or visit https://wwwn.cdc.gov/dcs/ContactUs/Form.

###
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.