U.S. official expects ‘hundreds more’ cases of vaping illness
The number of vaping-related illnesses in the U.S. cou ld soon climb much higher, a public health official said Tuesday.
Dr. Anne Schuchat, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told a congressional subcommittee that she believes “hundreds more” lung illnesses have been reported to health authorities since last Thursday, when the CDC put the tally at 530 confirmed and probable cases. Nine deaths have been reported.
“We are seeing more and more cases each day and I expect the next weekly numbers will be much higher,” Schuchat said.
The CDC is investigating the little-understood outbreak but has not yet identified a common electronic cigarette or ingredient.
The cases, which resemble an inhalation injury, have helped trigger a backlash against e-cigarettes, including a proposed federal ban on flavors by the Trump administration, state-level restrictions in Michigan and New York, and an end to sales in Walmart stores nationwide.
Under questioning from House Democrats at the first hearing on the emerging problem, Schuchat empha- sized how little is known about the effects of inhaling various oils, flavor particles and other vaping ingredients.
don’t know enough about the aerosol that vaping produces in terms of the short and longer-term health impacts,” said Schuchat. “It may indeed be that the process itself is risky.”
Many patients reported vaping THC from marijuana, but Schuchat and health offi- cials have cautioned that some said they only vaped nicotine.
One theory is that counterfeiters started adding some- thing new to knock-off vape products this year. Lab tests of some of the suspect vape products found vitamin E acetate. That lines up with what’s known about the additives some counterfeiters are using to “cut” THC oil.
The CDC is recommending people who vape consider not using e-cigarettes at all while authorities investigate.
Subcommittee chairman Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., slammed Food and Drug Administration regula- tors for not requiring more testing of nicotine-containing e-cigarettes.
“When a pr o duct is released onto the market without safety testing or clin- ical trials, this is what we fear,” he said.
The FDA gained authority to regulate the products in 2016, but repeatedly pushed back the timeline for reviewing their health effects. The current deadline for submitting products is next May.
Lawmakers also heard from the mother of Piper Johnson, 18, who was rushed to the emergency room in August with chest pain, coughing and nausea.
Her mother, Ruby Johnson, told lawmakers the problems emerged while driving Piper to start her freshman year of college in Colorado.
Ruby Johnson blamed e-cigarette manufacturers for targeting teens with appealing flavors and the FDA for allowing vapes to “proliferate, flourish and remain for purchase,” without formal review.