CDC releases update on vaping illness

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The latest CDC report is now posted on the website.

Haley Wyble, Staff Writer

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) released an update on the investigation of products like vaping on October 17th, 2019. The report officially named the illness “EVALI” which stands from “e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury. The CDC recommends patients who have EVALI should have a chest radiograph.” 

More cases have come up since the report on October 8th which reported 26 people have died in 21 states. However, the report on October 29th concluded now 37 people have died from “EVALI” in 49 states (all except Alaska). The CDC has still not been able to find the exact ingredient that has been causing this disease. 

In addition, to having a chest radiograph done, the CDC recommends that “people consider refraining from using e cigarette, or vaping, or products that contain nicotine.” 

One student said, “It’s not cool to vape, especially when they are at a high risk of this disease if they vape.” 

There has been some talk from officials about looking more into vaping companies marketing towards young consumers and certain flavor names. One student said, “I don’t think a vaping ban is necessary, but they have questionable flavor names like cotton candy for vaping.” 

The report concluded that “THC is present in most of the samples tested by FDA to date, and most patients report a history of using THC-containing products.” 

Overall the CDC recommends “people do not use e-cigarette, or vaping, products that contain THC.” and the agency said, “(The) CDC will continue to update guidance, as appropriate, as new data emerges from this complex outbreak.”