The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are investigating the incidents related to severe respiratory illness associated with the use of electronic cigarettes, the FDA said Friday.
The FDA on Friday also issued an advisory that asks the public to consider refraining from using electronic-cigarette products if they are concerned with specific health risks.
An Illinois adult who developed a respiratory illness after using an electronic cigarette died last week, as more cases surfaced nationally of serious lung problems after vaping, state officials said.
The agencies said they are working with state and local health officials to investigate the incidents and to take appropriate actions. The CDC has deployed staff to Illinois and Wisconsin to assist their state health departments on the investigations, the FDA said.
The FDA said it has received from states about 80 samples of products and substances and are determining whether they contain nicotine, tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, and other cannabinoids and elements. The results from the analysis would be shared with states for their investigations, the FDA said.
As of Aug. 27, the FDA said 215 possible cases have been reported from 25 states, with more reports of pulmonary illness under investigation. Reported symptoms include breathing difficulty, shortness of breath and chest pain before hospitalization, and patients have also said they used electronic-cigarette products containing THC, the FDA said.