Vaping deaths have climbed to 37 as of the end of October, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, there may be more fatalities because of this illness that haven’t been included in the numbers.
More Death Totals from Vaping
One such case involves a woman in Georgia. She was a 52-year-old woman who had smoked and switched to vaping several years ago. It was only when she started using THC products that she became ill. She quickly developed a cough that wouldn’t go away. It progressed to nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. She was diagnosed with pneumonia like so many who have had the vaping-related illness.
Two months later, her death is not listed among the totals. The CDC is waiting for the official word from the county medical examiner. If it is determined that her death was related to vaping, it would make Georgia the number one state for vaping related deaths at four.
The total number of cases of vaping related illnesses is up to almost 1900. The figures have increased by 284 in one week, which is a significant jump from what previous weeks had been reporting. The slowdown seems to have ended, which some officials believe resulted from delays in reporting.
While the majority of cases involve people vaping products with THC, which is the ingredient found in marijuana, no single substance has been found to be present in all cases.
The CHC is still recommending that everyone stop vaping THC products. It also suggests not vaping at all until the situation is resolved. The illness appears to have begun in March.
Controversy with Vaping
The controversy surrounding the dangers of vaping isn’t new. Proponents of vaping say it is safer than smoking. On the other side are those who say that e-cigarettes contain cancer-causing ingredients. Regardless of which side appears to have the stronger evidence, the current outbreak of lung illnesses has done major damage to the image of e-cigarettes and vaping.
At the same time, there are many who are ignoring the CDC warnings and continuing to use the products. Teens are among those who have become enthralled with the image of vaping. While these products were designed for use by smokers who are trying to quit traditional cigarettes, many people who have never smoked have become consumers of vaping products.
Smoking is one of the leading causes of death in the United States with nearly 500,000 Americans dying each year. However, many are beginning to question whether vaping is a better option for the short and long-term. Researchers have published studies that support their viewpoints on either side. However, vaping hasn’t been around long enough to determine long-term risks yet.
One thing is clear, and that is this mysterious illness continues to find more victims. Others who have been lucky so far aren’t heeding the CDC warnings, and no definite cause has been identified. Anyone interested in seeing the latest totals can check out the CDC website where the latest data is posted each Thursday.