US Mysterious Vaping Lung Illness Cases Jump 52% in a Week, 12 Dead

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Thursday that a mysterious lung illness that began to emerge last week is rapidly worsening, with confirmed or suspected cases reaching 805, a 52% increase from the previous week. As of Tuesday, the CDC reported that at least 12 people have died across 10 states in the U.S.

Federal health officials remain unclear about the cause of the illnesses. The CDC stated, "Most patients reported having used e-cigarette products containing THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). Many patients reported using both THC and nicotine. Some reported using only nicotine-containing e-cigarette products."

As of September 17, the CDC confirmed 530 suspected cases and 7 deaths. The increase from last week includes new cases as well as confirmations of previously reported cases. Patients are spread across 46 states in the U.S.

Health officials noted that the disease primarily affects males, and all reported cases have a history of e-cigarette use. The CDC reported that two-thirds of the patients are aged between 18 and 24, and 16% are under 18 years old.

The CDC has dispatched over 100 doctors and investigators to determine the cause of this deadly illness. The disease resembles rare pneumonia, with early symptoms including cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

U.S. lawmakers are seizing this opportunity to scrutinize the e-cigarette industry. A House committee is investigating market leader Juul, and they requested answers from senior CDC officials regarding the causes of the illnesses.

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar stated that President Trump is preparing to ban flavored e-cigarettes, which have come under close scrutiny due to their appeal to children. Some state and local governments in the U.S. have already begun to ban such sales. Michigan was the first state to ban the sale of flavored e-cigarettes, while San Francisco was the first city to announce a ban.