CDC Warning: Vape-Related Illnesses, Death In Illinois

ILLINOIS — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating a multi-state outbreak of severe lung diseases related to e-cigarette products and has this warning, for now, as a bottom line: “While this investigation is ongoing, consider not using e-cigarette products.”

As of early September, upward of 380 cases of lung illnesses reported to the CDC are suspected of being related to e-cigarettes in 33 different states and one U.S. territory.

Puffing a cloud of smoke from an e-cig suddenly isn’t so cool, if it ever was.

Out of the hundreds of reported cases, the Illinois Department of Public Health confirmed 22 vaping-related illnesses and one death. Patients ranged in age from 17 to 38, and IDPH in August said it was investigating another 12 cases of potentially vaping-related respiratory illness.

In addition to Illinois, deaths have also been reported in California, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota and Oregon.

• Death Linked To Vaping: IL Patient With Respiratory Illness Dies
• Vaping Hospitalizes 9 With Severe Breathing Problems In Illinois
• New Lenox Teen Hospitalized From Vaping, Parents Call For Change

A Gurnee teen and his parents say the 18-year-old "almost didn't make it" to a hospital when he became seriously ill with a vaping-related lung infection. He won't be allowed to leave the hospital until he can breathe on his own, and doctors reportedly told him his lungs are "like a 70-year-old's."

And a New Lenox teen never made it to college after she became seriously ill after vaping and had to be rushed to a hospital in Colorado.

The investigation has not identified any one substance or e-cigarette product that is directly linked to all cases, and there is also no evidence the diseases are infectious, which means the illnesses are most likely associated with chemical exposure, according to the CDC.

The health protection agency provides recommendations for the public to best avoid any e-cigarette related disease.

• Consider not using the products while the investigation is ongoing.

• Youth and young adults should not use e-cigarette products.
• Women who are pregnant should not use e-cigarette products.
• Adults who do not currently use tobacco products should not start using e-cigarette products.
• If you do use e-cigarette products, you should not buy these products off the street.

Here are symptoms being investigated:

• Patients in this investigation have reported symptoms such as:
• cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain
• nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• fatigue, fever, or weight loss
• Some patients have reported that their symptoms developed over a few days, while others have reported that their symptoms developed over several weeks. A pulmonary infection does not appear to be causing the symptoms, which have generally not improved with antibiotic treatment alone.

Here is the full list of the 33 states with possible reported cases of e-cigarette related issues.

• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Iowa
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maryland
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Montana
• North Carolina
• Nebraska
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• Ohio
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Virginia
• Vermont
• Wisconsin
• West Virginia