Washington (AFP)
Twenty-six people died in the United States after using electronic cigarettes, mostly containing cannabis-infused liquids, health authorities reported on Thursday, updating the previous record of 18 deaths.
A total of 1,299 cases of severe pulmonary disease associated with vaping have been reported throughout the country, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced, confirming that what authorities call an epidemic continues despite health warnings. .
Last Thursday, the official toll was 18 deaths and 1,080 patients.
Disease began to appear sparingly in March and April, but it was only in July that authorities began to understand that vapers were struck by the same mysterious disease. The peak of patients was in July, August and September, but vapers continue to present themselves to hospitals.
70% of patients are men, and 80% are under 35 years old. 15% are under 18 years old. But the dead are older: half were between 49 and 75 years old.
In three-quarters of cases, patients reported consuming THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the psychoactive cannabis agent, which led health authorities to call on the public to avoid vaping, especially if e-liquids been bought from dealers.
One or more liquid additives are suspected of causing the diseases, but laboratory tests have still failed to determine which ones.
Several cities and US states are considering or have voted bans on electronic cigarettes, either total or only for flavored e-cigarettes (non-tobacco fragrances, such as mint, menthol, fruit ...), to prevent young people to start vaping.
At the national level, the administration of Donald Trump has announced the ban on flavored vapers starting this autumn. But the regulations have not been published yet.
© 2019 AFP