U.S. vaping-related deaths rise to 47, cases of
illness to 2,290
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[November 22, 2019]
(Reuters) - U.S. health officials on
Thursday reported 2,290 confirmed and probable cases and 5 more deaths
from a mysterious respiratory illness tied to vaping, taking the total
death toll to 47 so far this year.
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Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
recorded 2,172 cases and 42 deaths from the illness.
U.S. officials recently said vitamin E acetate — believed to be used
as a cutting agent in illicit vaping products containing marijuana
components — was found in all lung samples from 29 patients who were
tested.
CDC has called vitamin E acetate a "chemical of concern" and
recommended not adding it to e-cigarettes, or vaping products, while
the investigation is underway.
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Investigators had earlier pointed to vaping oils containing THC, the
psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, as being especially risky.
The spate of serious respiratory illnesses has led to U.S. officials
urging people to stop vaping, especially those products containing
THC.
As of Nov. 20, confirmed deaths were reported in 25 states and the
District of Columbia, the CDC said. Louisiana became the newest
state to report a death from the illness. (http://bit.ly/349bjM1)
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The highest number of deaths were from Illinois, which has so far
reported 5 deaths and 187 illnesses.
The Trump administration announced a plan in September to remove all
flavored e-cigarettes from store shelves, as officials warned that
sweet flavors had drawn millions of children into nicotine
addiction.
President Donald Trump will host a meeting on vaping at the White
House on Friday with a range of groups, including industry and
public health representatives, a White House spokesman said on
Wednesday.
(Reporting by Manojna Maddipatla and Saumya Sibi Joseph in Bengaluru;
Editing by Shinjini Ganguli)
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