Vaping has been a hot topic lately. The use of e-cigarettes has been causing health problems recently across the United States and Indiana, however, the exact reasoning behind this remains cloudy.
The Indiana State Department of Health confirmed the first death of an Indiana resident earlier this week due to a severe lung injury while vaping. This is the third reported death in the United States linked to e-cigarette use. Now, investigations are now underway to find out what is causing these things to happen.
Administrative Director of the Dubois County Health Department Jo Ann Spaulding says that multiple patients that have been pulmonary issues within the last 90 days have all used e-cigarettes.
The ISDH is investigating reports of 30 individuals with severe acute respiratory illness who reported recent e-cigarette use or dabbing, which is the act of smoking marijuana oils, extracts, and concentrates. Across the United States, over 450 cases of potentially vaping-related illness have been reported in over 33 states.
Spaulding says that the illnesses have been confirmed to not be brought on by anything viral or bacterial.
In Indiana, cases range in age from 16 to 65 and 63% are male. The ISDH is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, and other states responding to reports of similar cases.
The Dubois County Health Department is now urging people to take caution when it comes to e-cigarettes. The Health Department is saying until a definitive cause is known, a person should consider not using any type of e-cigarettes.
Tune in tomorrow as we take a look at local statistics with Dubois County students and e-cigarette use.
