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The CDC and state health departments around the country are investigating a cluster of severe lung illnesses caused possibly by vaping. The investigation centers around 94 cases in 14 states from June 28 to Aug. 15 of this year.
The CDC released this statement, “The CDC is providing consultation to the departments of health in Wisconsin, Illinois, California, Indiana, and Minnesota about a cluster of pulmonary illnesses linked to e-cigarette product use, or “vaping,” primarily among adolescents and young adults. Additional states have alerted CDC to possible (not confirmed) cases and investigations into these cases are ongoing. There is no conclusive evidence that an infectious disease is causing the illnesses. While some cases in each of the states are similar and appear to be linked to e-cigarette product use, more information is needed to determine what is causing the illnesses.”
As the investigation ramps up, the personal stories of teens that have been injured are gaining attention on social media. 16-year-old Florida teen, Chance Ammirata started the social media campaign #LungLove. He recently underwent emergency surgery due to a life-threatening hole that appeared in his lungs after using e-cigarettes for a year and a half. His lung collapsed,
and he was in so much pain he thought he had a heart attack. He now has more than 24 thousand Instagram followers and frequently posts videos of other teens destroying their Juul e-cigarettes.
Ammirata has been very open about his ordeal and has even posted pictures of the hole and other damage done to his lungs. He told CBS This Morning, “I didn’t know I’d be able to reach people from all around the world. It really just touches my heart.”
Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath are following these developments closely. If you know of someone that has suffered lung damage due to e-cigarette use, contact us at 1-(561) 655-1990.