Orange County health department also urges people to stop using vaping products
Goshen. Commissioner: 'The bottom line is smoking and vaping is unsafe.'
| 02 Oct 2019 | 06:44
Orange County Commissioner of Health Dr. Irina Gelman is urging residents to stop using all vape products while the investigation into the definitive cause of vaping-associated illnesses nationwide continues. (
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Piggybacking on what federal and state health officials are saying, Orange County Commissioner of Health Dr. Irina Gelman is urging residents to stop using all vape products while the investigation into the definitive cause of vaping-associated illnesses nationwide continues.
“The bottom line is smoking and vaping is unsafe,” Gelman said. “E-cigarettes pose a health risk for youth, young adults, pregnant women, and adults who do not currently use tobacco products. While evidence exists that adult smokers who completely substitute vaping for traditional smoking reduce their exposure to many of the toxic chemicals and carcinogens present in combustible tobacco cigarettes, e-cigarettes are not risk-free and are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a quit-smoking aid.”
According to the New York State Department of Health, as of this month, 81 cases of severe pulmonary illness have been reported by physicians in the state, among patients who noted recent use of vape products.
The majority of patients have reported use of both nicotine and cannabis containing products, including marijuana, THC, and CBD (76 percent), while some report using cannabis containing products only (20 percent) and a few report using nicotine containing products only (four percent).
A wide range of brand names and packaging descriptions have been reported and testing has revealed that products with identical packaging often have different chemical components. While vitamin E acetate has been strongly correlated with many cases, a definitive cause has not yet been identified. In New York State, patients have ranged in age from 14 to 69 years old.
Symptoms
Nationally, 530 confirmed and probable cases of lung injury have been reported from 38 states and one U.S. territory. Additionally, seven deaths have been confirmed in six states.
Various symptoms have been reported upon presentation, including headache; fatigue; nausea; cough; pleuritic chest pain; shortness of breath; fever; diarrhea; anorexia; and weight loss.
Symptom onset has ranged from days to weeks prior to presentation, and all cases have consistently reported regular use of various vape products. At this time, all reported NYS cases have required hospitalization.
- Nancy Kriz
Recommendations
As per the CDC guidance, regardless of the ongoing investigation, the Orange County Department of Public Health recommends the following:
Youth and young adults should not use e-cigarette products.
Women who are pregnant should not use e-cigarette products.
Adults who do not currently use tobacco products should not start using e-cigarette products.
If you do use e-cigarette products, you should not buy these products off the street (for example, e-cigarette products with THC or other cannabinoids).
You should not modify e-cigarette products or add any substances to these products that are not intended by the manufacturer.
Adult smokers who are attempting to quit should use evidence-based treatments, including counseling and FDA-approved medications, do not return to smoking cigarettes.
If you have recently used an e-cigarette or vaping product and you have symptoms like those reported in this outbreak and/or you need help quitting tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, contact your doctor or other medical provider.