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Vaping Illnesses Increase to 530 Probable Cases Vaping Illnesses Increase to 530 Probable Cases
(36 minutes later)
The number of vaping-related lung illnesses has risen to 530 probable cases, and seven deaths are associated with the sickness, according to an update on Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The number of vaping-related lung illnesses has risen to 530 probable cases, and seven deaths are associated with the sickness, according to an update on Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Dr. Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director of the C.D.C., said officials expect more deaths because some people are suffering from severe lung illnesses.
But the nation’s public health officials said they still were unable to pinpoint the cause, or causes, of the sicknesses that have resulted in hundreds of hospitalizations, with many in intensive care units.But the nation’s public health officials said they still were unable to pinpoint the cause, or causes, of the sicknesses that have resulted in hundreds of hospitalizations, with many in intensive care units.
Dr. Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director of the C.D.C., said officials expect more deaths. Dr. Schuchat said some patients are on ventilators and therefore are unable to tell investigators what substances they vaped.
She said some patients are on ventilators and therefore are unable to tell investigators what substances they vaped.
“I wish we had more answers,” she said.“I wish we had more answers,” she said.
During a briefing with reporters, the C.D.C. provided the first demographic snapshot of the afflicted: Nearly three-quarters are male, two-thirds between 18 and 34. Sixteen percent are 18 or younger. “More than half of cases are under 25 years of age,” Dr. Schuchat said.During a briefing with reporters, the C.D.C. provided the first demographic snapshot of the afflicted: Nearly three-quarters are male, two-thirds between 18 and 34. Sixteen percent are 18 or younger. “More than half of cases are under 25 years of age,” Dr. Schuchat said.
Illnesses have now been reported in 38 states, and one United States territory.Illnesses have now been reported in 38 states, and one United States territory.
The first case in Canada also emerged this week. Officials there released information about a teenager in Ontario who was put on life support in an intensive care unit, but has now recovered.The first case in Canada also emerged this week. Officials there released information about a teenager in Ontario who was put on life support in an intensive care unit, but has now recovered.
Vaping entails inhalation of aerosolized substances, usually nicotine or THC – the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana — mixed with solvents or other chemicals. The spate of illnesses this summer, coupled with the rising popularity of teenage vaping, has led a few states and the Trump administration to propose outlawing flavored e-cigarettes. Public officials hope restricting flavors that hold particular appeal for youth may discourage teenage use and adoption of vaping. Early results of an annual survey released on Wednesday show that teenage vaping has doubled since 2017.
The C.D.C. reiterated that many of the people who have gotten sick have used THC-based products, some obtained on the street, rather than from retailers in states where recreational or medical marijuana is legal. But C.D.C. officials continued to emphasize they have not identified a single clear chemical or cause of the outbreak. Vaping typically entails inhalation of aerosolized substances, usually nicotine or THC – the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana — mixed with solvents or other chemicals.
The lack of answers has begun to elicit frustration from various camps, including consumers, policy experts and industry groups. Since mid-August, when public health officials first disclosed that nearly three dozen people had gotten sick, a clear cause has not been identified. The C.D.C. reiterated that many of the people who have gotten sick have used THC-based products, some obtained on the street, rather than from retailers in states where recreational or medical marijuana is legal. But C.D.C. officials continued to emphasize they have not identified a single clear chemical or cause of the outbreak The officials said patients have report using THC, THC and nicotine and for some, just nicotine.
Federal health officials from the C.D.C. and the Food and Drug Administration have said that patients report using different vaping products: THC, THC and nicotine and some just nicotine. The C.D.C. has said that to be safe for the time being, people should not vape anything at all.The lack of answers has begun to elicit frustration from various camps, including consumers, policy experts and industry groups. Since mid-August, when public health officials first disclosed that nearly three dozen people had gotten sick, a clear cause has not been identified.The agencies have pointed to the complexity of testing products and challenges of getting detailed history from patients about their behavior.
The agencies have pointed to the complexity of testing products and challenges of getting detailed history from patients about their behavior.
At the same time, a growing number of critics have said, there should be clearer results from the massive machinery of the federal investigation — more than 80 people at the C.D.C. working on the issue and a F.D.A. lab in Cincinnati working with more than 150 samples from patients who got sick.At the same time, a growing number of critics have said, there should be clearer results from the massive machinery of the federal investigation — more than 80 people at the C.D.C. working on the issue and a F.D.A. lab in Cincinnati working with more than 150 samples from patients who got sick.
“We are not getting specific information we need to protect the public,” Dr. Michael Siegel, a pediatrician at Boston University who has been a strong advocate for the use e-cigarettes as a less dangerous alternative to traditional smoking. He said that the government has heavily implied that the problem is largely resulting from the use of illicit THC-related vaping products made but has not exonerated e-cigarettes, creating confusion.“We are not getting specific information we need to protect the public,” Dr. Michael Siegel, a pediatrician at Boston University who has been a strong advocate for the use e-cigarettes as a less dangerous alternative to traditional smoking. He said that the government has heavily implied that the problem is largely resulting from the use of illicit THC-related vaping products made but has not exonerated e-cigarettes, creating confusion.
“They’re not releasing the number of cases involved with THC,” he said. “That’s information they should be releasing.”“They’re not releasing the number of cases involved with THC,” he said. “That’s information they should be releasing.”
The C.D.C. has said that, for the time being, people should not vape at all — whether nicotine or THC — to be safe. Eric Lindblom, an expert in tobacco policy at Georgetown Law School and a former F.D.A. senior adviser. said that the F.D.A. has the authority to ban the sale of THC vaping liquid, or THC vape pens, even in states where recreational marijuana is legal — or to ban sales that include any solvents other than ones known to be safe.
Some criticism has been leveled too at the F.D.A., which has been more pointed in its concerns about THC as the chief culprit. But, given that concern, the F.D.A. has not exercised any regulatory effort to stamp out the problem, said Eric Lindblom, an expert in tobacco policy at Georgetown Law School and a former F.D.A. senior adviser.
Mr. Lindblom said that if, in fact, counterfeit THC vaping devices are mostly to blame, then the agency has the ability and even obligation to intervene. Mr. Lindblom said it would be straightforward to disallow the sale of THC vaping liquid, or THC vape pens, even in states where recreational marijuana is legal — or to disallow sales that include any solvents other than ones known to be safe.
“They need to do something,” he said. “They should just take action to stop these things. It’s a no-lose situation.”“They need to do something,” he said. “They should just take action to stop these things. It’s a no-lose situation.”
Mitchell Zeller, director of the F.D.A.’s Center for Tobacco Products it would be premature to take further action until “we get answers to these questions.”
“We are in desperate need of facts and evidence,” he said during a news briefing with the C.D.C. on Thursday. He said that there were multiple compounds showing up in the vaping mixtures, including Vitamin E acetate and other additives. He said that Vitamin E did not appear to be the sole factor but did not elaborate on other substances involved.
Mr. Zeller also said that the FDA’s office of criminal investigations has begun “parallel investigative efforts.” He declined to specify any target of those efforts or whether an enforcement action is forthcoming, but he did say that particular arm of the FDA has gotten involved because it “has special investigative skills.
Dr. Schuchat from the C.D.C. said she understood the desire for more precise information. “We absolutely want to do that,” she said but added that in providing partial information, officials might “prematurely reassure” consumers about the safety of a product that ultimately turns out to be problematic.
One outstanding question, for instance, is whether there might be any connection between the recent bust in Wisconsin of an alleged vaping ring and the outbreak of illnesses. The bust involved seizing 57 Mason jars filled with liquid thought to be THC, or contain it, and thousands of empty vaping cartridges.
The bust and the outbreak come against a backdrop of tremendous uncertainty, even confusion, at the federal level over the governance of both e-cigarettes and, more so, marijuana.
With e-cigarettes, the F.D.A. has for years been developing regulations and policy about what products to allow into the market and under what circumstances. Recently, a federal court ruled that the F.D.A. must demand that e-cigarette makers provide evidence by May of next year about their public health benefits or be pulled from the market.
The issue is even trickier with marijuana, which the federal government still considers to be a Schedule 1 drug, a category it shares with such deadly substances as fentanyl and heroin. Yet with nearly a dozen states having legalized marijuana, and nearly three dozen allowing medicinal use, the federal government has essentially stood on the sidelines, trying to balance the growing political momentum behind legalization — as well as a burgeoning industry of cannabis and hemp products — against the uncertain health effects and longstanding federal policy.