CT Department of Public Health Reports 18th Case of Lung Injury Related to Vaping

Commissioner Adding Vaping-Related Lung Disease to List of Reportable Health Conditions; Recommends Residents Consider Not Using Vaping Products

The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) is reporting that it has learned of five more Connecticut residents who were ill with lung injuries possibly related to using e-cigarettes or vaping, bringing the total to 18 cases that have been reported to DPH.  All of the patients who had been hospitalized with vaping-related lung injury have now been discharged from the hospital.  Of those who were hospitalized, half required treatment in an intensive care unit.  The 18 cases involve residents from six of our counties: Fairfield (9), New Haven (5), Hartford (1), New London (1), Tolland (1), and Windham (1). The age breakdown of the patients is as follows: Under 18 years of age (4) 18 to 34 years of age (11); 35 years of age and older (3).

DPH is participating in the national investigation of vaping-related lung injury that is being led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The investigation has not yet identified any specific e-cigarette or vaping product or substance that is linked to all cases.

“We are working with the CDC and other states to find out what is causing these lung injuries,” said DPH Commissioner Renée D. Coleman-Mitchell. “I am urging Connecticut residents to consider not using e-cigarette or vaping products, at least until we know more about what is making people sick.”

In furtherance of the investigation, Commissioner Coleman-Mitchell has today amended DPH’s “List of Reportable Diseases, Emergency Illnesses and Health Conditions” to include mandatory reporting by health care providers and facilities of all incidents of “unexplained vaping-related lung injuries”.

“We are sending this update to the ‘List of Reportable Diseases, Emergency Illnesses and Health Conditions’ today to more than 26,000 healthcare providers and facilities to allow DPH to better understand the magnitude of this disease so that informed efforts may be undertaken to control it,” said Commissioner Coleman-Mitchell.

Anyone who uses an e-cigarette or vaping product should not buy these products (e.g., e-cigarette or vaping products with THC or other cannabinoids) off the street, and should not modify or add any substances to these products that are not intended by the manufacturer.

Youth, young adults, and women who are pregnant should not use e-cigarette or vaping products.

More information about the investigation can be found on CDC’s webpage:

https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/severe-lung-disease.html