More than 2,000 cases of vaping-related lung injuries verified in 49 states

The number of vaping related cases of lung injuries and deaths continues rise while the nation’s premiere health organization searches for the cause.

New statistics were released this afternoon by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: 2,051 cases of illness and 39 deaths have been confirmed as of Nov. 5, 2019.

Since August, Illnesses have been reported in every state, except Alaska, the District of Columbia and one U.S. territory. Deaths have occurred in 24 states.

The CDC is working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, state health departments and other clinical and health partners to investigate the outbreak, but to date, no single cause has been identified. The illness has been given an acronym: EVALI, which stands for e-cigarette and vaping associated lung injury.

In Mississippi, the number of confirmed EVALI reports has risen to nine including one death. All of the injuries required hospitalization.

The CDC states that no one compound or ingredient has emerged as the cause of the illness. It may be that more than one is responsible. Nonetheless, findings from the investigation suggest that products containing THC, particularly those obtained off the street, play a major role in the outbreak.

This is an illness that is hitting young people the hardest. Patients as young as 13 and as old as 75 have been diagnosed; however, 79 percent of patients are under 35, and most are between 18 and 24.

The only way to assure you are not at risk is to refrain from using any e-cigarette or vaping products.

For more information, visit the Mississippi State Department of Health website, or the CDC website.

In related news, Juul Labs announced it will stop selling its mint-flavored products in response to research showing the flavor was a best seller among high-school students. It will continue to sell menthol and tobacco flavors, according to the Associated Press.