according to a statement released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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These cases have been reported to the CDC from 49 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The increase in lung injury cases from Oct. 1 (reported to be 1,080) represents both new patients and recent reporting of patients previously identified to the CDC.
Twenty-six deaths have been confirmed in 21 states and more deaths are currently being reviewed.
The causes of the injuries are still under investigation. The CDC stated, “The latest findings from the investigation into lung injuries associated with e-cigarette use, or vaping, suggest products containing THC play a role in the outbreak. All patients have a reported history of e-cigarette product use, or vaping, and no consistent evidence of an infectious cause has been discovered. Therefore, the suspected cause is a chemical exposure.” The specific chemical causing the lung injuries associated with vaping remains unknown at this time.
The CDC has created information hubs and resources for the public, for health care providers, and for state and local health department officials. The CDC has also provided additional resources to address the outbreak of vaping-associated lung injuries.