CDC activates emergency center for vaping lung injury investigation

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today activated its Emergency Operations Center to enhance the inter-agency response to the outbreak of lung injuries associated with e-cigarette use. As of last week, 36 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands have reported at least 380 confirmed or probable cases and six deaths. “CDC has made it a priority to find out what is causing this outbreak of e-cigarette or vaping-related injuries and deaths,” said CDC Director Robert Redfield, M.D. “Activation of CDC’s Emergency Operations Center allows us to enhance operations and provide additional support to CDC staff working to protect our Nation from this serious health threat.” CDC has encouraged clinicians to report possible cases of e-cigarette-associated pulmonary disease to their local or state health department, and the public not to use e-cigarettes until investigators identify a specific cause.