Science Lion Byte: Vaping Illness Outbreak Update – Dec. 6, 2019

Please refer to our previous publication for a comprehensive background of the vaping illness outbreak in the United States.

Here is a summary of the latest vaping-related lung illness data released by the CDC, as of December 5, 2019 at 1pm EST:

• As of December 4, 2019, CDC will only report hospitalized EVALI cases and EVALI deaths regardless of hospitalization status. As a result, the CDC removed 175 non-hospitalized cases from previously reported national cases.                                                                   
• The number of e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury (EVALI) cases has been reported to reach 2,291 nationwide, rising from 2,116 last week. California, Illinois, and Texas lead the nation in confirmed EVALI cases.

• EVALI cases have now been reported in all 50 states of the United States, after Alaska’s Department of Health and Social Services reported their first case of vaping-related lung injury on December 3, 2019. The District of Columbia (D.C.), Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands have reported cases, as well.

• There have now been 48 confirmed deaths related to EVALI, rising from 47 last week. States reporting the most EVALI-related deaths are Illinois (5), California (4), and Indiana (4).

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As of the most recent data set, EVALI patient statistics are as follows:

• Regarding hospitalization status, 95% of EVALI patients have been hospitalized; 5% have not.

• 68% of patients are reported to be male.

• Breakdown of patients by age group:
  – 15% of patients were under 18 years old
  – 38% were 18 to 24 years old
  – 24% were 25 to 34 years old
  – 23% were 35 years or older

• 

There have been 2,291 confirmed EVALI cases and 48 EVALI-related deaths reported in the United States, continuing a steady, weekly rise in case numbers, nationwide.

 

 

The most complete information of patient product use, 3 months prior to symptom onset, reflects the following:

• 83% reported using THC-containing products; 35% reported exclusive use of THC-containing products.

• 61% reported using nicotine-containing products; 13% reported exclusive use of nicotine-containing products.

• 48% reported both THC- and nicotine-containing product use.

• 4% reported no THC- or nicotine-containing product use.

 

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Looking beyond the United States, President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines has officially issued a ban on e-cigarettes, after the country reported its first confirmed EVALI case in a 16 year-old girl, on November 15, 2019.

The Philippines join roughly 30 other countries that have moved to issue a ban on e-cigarette products, including Brazil, India and Singapore. Indonesia is now strongly considering following suit of the Philippines by possibly issuing their own vaping ban to preempt the surfacing of EVALI cases in its country. President Trump of the United States is still contemplating an executive order to ban e-cigarettes; in particular, flavored e-cigarette products.

Canada has also reported that they now have 13 official EVALI cases in its country with fears of more cases popping up in the future.

Take care and stay tuned for the next Science Lion Byte!

 

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