Vaping-related lung disease cases continue to rise with no clear cause identified

Reports of vaping-related lung disease continue to rise in Mississippi and across the U.S.

The Mississippi State Department of Health now reports a total of seven cases of severe lung illnesses related to vaping, or e-cigarettes, requiring hospitalization and one death. The victims, five men and two women, are all between 18 and 34 years old. Three of the individuals used only nicotine products, three used only THC products and one used both types of products.

That mix of products is consistent with findings of the federal Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which are monitoring and investigating the outbreak. Nationwide, the majority of victims have used THC products; however, the specific cause has not been identified.

“No one compound or ingredient has emerged as the cause of these illnesses to date; and it may be that there is more than one cause of this outbreak,” the CDC writes on its website. “Many different substances and product sources are still under investigation. The specific chemical exposure(s) causing lung injuries associated with e-cigarette product use, or vaping, remains unknown at this time.”

“… [T]he only commonality among all cases is that patients report the use of e-cigarette, or vaping, products.

As of Oct. 15, 1,479 cases of lung injuries associated with vaping have been reported in every state except Alaska, in the District of Columbia and one U.S. territory.

Thirty-three deaths have been confirmed in 24 states.

Because the specific causes are still unknown, the CDC advises that the only way to make sure you are not putting yourself at risk is to not vape.

For more information on the outbreak in Mississippi, visit the MSDH website. For information on the nationwide outbreak, visit the CDC website. If you are vaping to quit smoking, both sites provide alternatives to help you safely quit.