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 12, 2019 at 1pm EST:
- As of December 4, 2019, CDC will only report hospitalized EVALI cases and EVALI deaths regardless of hospitalization status.
- The number of e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury (EVALI) cases has been reported to reach 2,409 nationwide, rising from 2,291 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 52 confirmed deaths related to EVALI, rising from 48 last week. States reporting the most EVALI-related deaths are Illinois (5), Indiana (5), and California (4).
As of December 3, 2019, EVALI patient statistics are as follows:
- Regarding hospitalization status, 95% of EVALI patients have been hospitalized; 5% have not.
- 67% of patients are reported to be male.
- Breakdown of patients by age group:
– 16% 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
The most complete information of patient product use, 3 months prior to symptom onset, reflects the following:
- 82% reported using THC-containing products; 35% reported exclusive use of THC-containing products.
- 62% 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.
Overall, 152 different THC-containing product brands were reported by EVALI patients, and of those products reported, *Dank Vapes was the most commonly reported product brand used by patients nationwide, although there are regional differences. This supports the premise that THC-containing products are heavily contributing to the EVALI outbreak, and that no one brand is solely responsible.
* Dank Vapes is a class of largely counterfeit THC-containing products of unknown origin.
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. In the meantime, a vaping bill which is currently being mulled over in congress, would strengthen restrictions against tobacco sales to youths and ban e-cigarette flavorings; this bill will be voted on early next year.
Canada is also experiencing an uptick in vaping cases with its 14th official EVALI case reported in the country, as of December 10, 2019.
Take care and stay tuned for the next Science Lion Byte!
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