Lung Injury Outbreak: Signs Point To Majority Of Patients Vaping THC Products

(CNN) — Two reports published Friday shed more light on the mysterious, growing outbreak of lung injuries linked to vaping, highlighting the prevalence of THC-containing products in particular. The reports, released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, offer a national picture of who’s been impacted, as well as an in-depth look at the outbreak Illinois and Wisconsin — the first two states to report cases. Nationally, nearly 7 in 10 patients have been men, and the median age is 23 years. Of more than 500 patients who offered information on what substances they used, nearly 77% reported THC-containing products, while nearly 57% reported nicotine-containing products. “We are in the midst of a complex investigation that spans nearly all states [and] involves serious, life-threatening disease in young people who report use of a wide variety of substances and products,” Dr. Anne Schuchat, CDC’s principal deputy director, told reporters Friday. Related: Vape Store Owner Sues Massachusetts Over Vaping Products Ban In Illinois and Wisconsin, patient interviews revealed more about what they had been vaping. Health officials identified 234 unique vaping products across 87 brand names. Although no one brand was used by every person interviewed, Dank Vapes was named by ⅔ of patients. In a couple of instances in Wisconsin, friends who had been sharing Dank Vapes cartridges became ill. Dank Vapes is a pre-filled cartridge advertised to ...
Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Health News Syndicated CBSN Boston CNN THC vaping Source Type: news