NEW: Over 150 Reports of Suspected Vaping-Related Lung Injuries Received by MA Health Officials
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) has received 152 reports of suspected vaping-related lung injuries to date, it announced Wednesday.
According to DPH, of the 152 reports, 29 cases were reported to the CDC, 63 cases are under active investigation and 60 have been ruled out.
A woman in her 60s from Hampshire County was the state's first death from vaping-related lung injury.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST"We don’t know what specifically is causing the lung injuries in these cases, but we do know the one thing they have in common is the use of e-cigarettes, or vaping. We continue to work with our federal partners to share what we are learning and gain a better understanding of this disease,” said Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel, MD, MPH.
DPH’s report comes less than a month after Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker issued a four-month ban on the sale of vape products.
Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo issued a 120-day ban on flavored vaping products just days later.
New Cases
MA DPH reported ten new cases of vaping-associated pulmonary injury, now totaling 29 cases, 10 confirmed and 19 probable to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
DPH has conducted patient interviews in 12 of the 29 cases reported to CDC and continues to contact patients for interviews.
Of the 29 cases reported to the CDC, 15 of the patients are female and 14 are male. Twenty-five of the patients were hospitalized as a result of their illness.
In addition, 20 of the 29 patients reported vaping tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), an ingredient found in marijuana, with or without nicotine. Of those 20 cases, 13 reported using THC only.
Seven reported THC and nicotine. Eight reported vaping nicotine only.
Nine cases were under the age of 20. Seven were between the ages of 20 and 29.
Seven were between 30 and 49. There were six cases over the age of 50.
CDC National Investigation
As of October 8, nearly 1,300 lung injury cases associated with using e-cigarette or vaping products have been reported to the CDC from 49 states, the District of Columbia, and 1 U.S. territory.
Twenty-six deaths have been confirmed in 21 states.
All patients have reported a history of using e-cigarette or vaping products.
No single product has been linked to all cases of vaping related lung injury.
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