Washington (AFP)

The epidemic of lung diseases related to the consumption of electronic cigarettes in the United States does not weaken, the balance passing to 18 dead and 1,080 patients, announced Thursday the Centers of control and prevention of the diseases (CDC).

In one week, six new deaths and 275 new cases were identified according to the criteria established by the health authorities: half of the new patients corresponded to old cases that had not been recognized as such, and the other half to people who have been hospitalized for the last two weeks - while the alarm has sounded since August.

"Unfortunately, the epidemic (...) continues at a rapid pace," said CDC senior executive Anne Schuchat in a conference call with the press. "We do not observe a decline in the occurrence of new cases".

It is in the context of this mysterious epidemic that several states and cities have decided to ban either all e-cigarettes (Massachusetts, San Francisco ...) or vapers flavored with anything but tobacco (mint, menthol, fruits ...).

The reason given for prohibitions is the protection of young people. One in four high school seniors said they had been vaping in the past month, according to a survey published in the New England Journal of Medicine in September, up from 11% in 2017.

78% of the patients for whom information is available indicated that they had used refills of vapers with THC, the psychoactive agent of cannabis.

"The black market is of great concern to us," said Anne Schuchat.

As a precaution, and for lack of understanding what causes diseases, the authorities officially advise against vaping, especially if it is cannabis products and bought from dealers.

More than 400 samples are in the hands of the Federal Food Agency, the Food and Drug Administration, which analyzes them in the hope of finding the ingredient or ingredients that may have caused the lung lesions, among the many additives , solvents, oils and flavors added in e-liquids to cut cannabis or nicotine.

"The samples we analyze give different results, and no single substance has been identified," said Judy McMeekin of the FDA.

At this stage of the investigation, "we must keep an open mind and admit that sources in one part of the country are not necessarily the same as elsewhere," said Anne Schuchat.

The analysis of lung lesions does not give similar results by region. A study of 17 patients by physicians from the Mayo Clinic Hospital Network, released on Wednesday, found similar lesions to toxic lung gases such as chemical burns.

Another study of five patients in North Carolina showed conversely lesions of the lipid pneumonia type, when oils penetrate the lungs.

"We have the impression that there are a lot of bad things in e-cigarettes and vaping products, and it's possible that different things hurt the lungs in different ways," added the CDC manager.

The median age of those who die is 49 and a half, said Anne Schuchat, but 80% of patients are under 35 years old. 16% are under 18 years old.

© 2019 AFP