Confirmed and probable cases of vaping-associated lung illness have risen to 1,080 across 48 states and one U.S. territory, according to the latest numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There have been 19 reported deaths.
The jump of 275 cases in one week is a combination of new illnesses being reported and retrospective cases, with no sign that the cases have peaked, federal officials said.
“We’re concerned that risky product is still available,” said Anne Schuchat, the principal deputy director of the CDC, on a press call. “That’s one of the reasons we’ve intensified our recommendations or warnings.”
The CDC recommends that people stay away from vaping altogether while the investigation is continuing, singling out THC-containing products specifically, as 78% of patients who self-reported their vaping products to officials reported use of THC. THC is the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis.
