Lung injury cases possibly linked to vaping rises to 38

Four new cases of Connecticut residents with lung injuries possibly linked to using ecigarettes or vaping, have been reported by the state Department of Public Health.

It brings the number of cases in the state to 38. One patient remains hospitalized.

The 38 cases involve residents from seven Connecticut counties including 17 in Fairfield; nine in New Haven; four in Hartford; three each in New London and Tolland counties; and one each in Litchfield and Windham counties

The age breakdown of the patients includes five under 18; eleven between 18 to 24 years; nine between 25 to 34; and thirteen 35 years or older.

“This outbreak remains a major public health concern," DPH Commissioner Renee D. ColemanMitchell said in a release.

"We continue to see new cases of lung injuries among those who have also reported vaping both nicotine and marijuana based material. I want to remind everyone that the best way to prevent these lung injuries is not to use ecigarette or vaping products, especially until the specific root causes of these adverse health effects have been identified."

Vaping products that contain THC, a psychoactive compound derived from marijuana, seem to play a major role in the outbreak.

Among 25 Connecticut patients interviewed by DPH, 19 reported using THCcontaining ecigarette or vaping products.

However, 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.

All tobacco products, including ecigarettes, carry health risks.

According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of Thursday there have been a total of 1,888 cases of vapingrelated lung injury had been reported from 49 states, the District of Columbia, and one U.S. territory.

The CDC also reported 37 deaths had been confirmed in 24 states.

More information about the investigation can be found on CDC’s webpage.