Missouri Running Totals

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Since the Missouri DHSS began advising, and now requiring, physicians to report possible vaping-associated pulmonary illnesses in late August, DHSS has received 22 reports from throughout the state of Missouri. Seven of these cases, including this first death, have been confirmed using the case definition developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Nine are still under investigation, and six reports were investigated and did not meet CDC’s case definition.

https://health.mo.gov/news/newsitem/uuid/6aa00c1e-504f-43a0-ad83-7b01390cfe8b/dhss-announces-first-vaping-associated-death-in-missouri-eighth-nationally

[niman]

1. https://health.mo.gov/news/newsitem/uuid/6aa00c1e-504f-43a0-ad83-7b01390cfe8b/dhss-announces-first-vaping-associated-death-in-missouri-eighth-nationally

September 19, 2019

DHSS Announces First Vaping-Associated Death in Missouri - Eighth Nationally

For Immediate Release:
Sept. 19, 2019

Media Contact:
Lisa Cox
Chief, Office of Public Information
Missouri DHSS of Health and Senior Services
[email protected]

 

ST. LOUIS (Sept. 19, 2019) - A Missouri man in his mid-40s died this week at Mercy Hospital St. Louis due to an illness associated with the use of e-cigarettes. This is the first vaping-related death in Missouri and the eighth nationwide.

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) concluded it was a vaping-related lung injury after lung samples were taken of a Mercy patient who had a history of vaping but normal lung function prior to starting vaping in May 2019. He developed mild respiratory symptoms that worsened, leading to hospitalization on Aug. 22 before being transferred to Mercy St. Louis on Sept. 4.

“This is an unfortunate case of a young man with no prior lung illness who started vaping because of chronic pain issues,” said Dr. Michael Plisco, Mercy critical care pulmonologist and medical director of Mercy’s extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) program. “He started out with shortness of breath and it rapidly progressed and deteriorated, developing into what is called acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Once the lungs are injured by vaping, we don’t know how quickly it worsens and if it depends on other risk factors.”

In the case of the Mercy patient, the man’s lungs were unable to provide enough gas exchange, leading to heart failure and near cardiac arrest. He was emergently placed on venoarterial ECMO in an effort to support his heart and rest his lungs.

“Unfortunately, because ECMO doesn’t fix the problem and only buys time for healing, it didn’t work in this case,” Dr. Plisco said. “Due to the nature of this critical illness, acute respiratory distress syndrome ultimately led to his death.”

Since the Missouri DHSS began advising, and now requiring, physicians to report possible vaping-associated pulmonary illnesses in late August, DHSS has received 22 reports from throughout the state of Missouri. Seven of these cases, including this first death, have been confirmed using the case definition developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Nine are still under investigation, and six reports were investigated and did not meet CDC’s case definition.

“We are sad to report that this illness associated with vaping has now resulted in a death in Missouri and extend our condolences to his family,” said Dr. Randall Williams, DHSS director. “As previously stated, we encourage Missourians to follow the CDC guidance to refrain from using e-cigarette products if you are concerned about these specific health risks, especially while the investigation is ongoing.”

No infectious diseases have been identified with the illness, meaning it doesn’t spread from person to person. These lung illnesses are likely associated with a chemical exposure from vaping. Patients report e-cigarette use and similar symptoms including:

• Cough, shortness of breath or chest pain.
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
• Fatigue, fever, or weight loss.
• Elevated heart rate.

DHSS and the CDC advise anyone using vaping products who experience the symptoms listed above to seek medical care promptly. In addition, if someone uses e-cigarettes, they shouldn’t buy products off the street (for example, e-cigarettes with THC or other cannabinoids). They also shouldn’t modify e-cigarette products or add any substances to them that are not intended by the manufacturer. If someone is concerned about their health after using e-cigarettes, call the local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.

Regardless of the ongoing investigation by the health department and CDC, youth, young adults and women who are pregnant should not use e-cigarettes. Adults who do not currently use tobacco products should not start using e-cigarettes. Adult smokers who are attempting to quit should use evidence-based treatments, including counseling and Food and Drug Administration-approved medications. If someone needs help quitting tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, contact your doctor or other medical provider or call the Missouri Tobacco Quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669). For information on the text-based e-cigarette quit program from Truth Initiative, visit truthinitiative.org/quitecigarettes or text “DITCHJUUL” to 88709.

For more information, please visit the DHSS website.

[niman]

Second vaping-related death reported in Missouri

A woman in her 50s died this week after a "long-standing underlying chronic lung condition"

 

Author: Kelsi Anderson

Published: 7:50 PM CST November 14, 2019

Updated: 7:50 PM CST November 14, 2019

MISSOURI, USA — A second vaping-related death has been reported in Missouri.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) said in a release on Thursday that a woman in her 50s died this week after a "long-standing underlying chronic lung condition." 

Missouri DHSS said that vaping was a contributing factor in her death.

“Sadly, we report the tragic impact e-cigarettes have had on another Missourian, and we send our condolences to her family,” DHSS Director Dr. Randall Williams said in the release. “As previously stated, we encourage Missourians to follow the CDC guidance to refrain from using e-cigarette products if you are concerned about these specific health risks, especially while the investigation is ongoing.”

The first vaping-related death in Missouri was reported in September after a man in his mid-40s died at Mercy Hospital St. Louis.

Missouri DHSS said it concluded the man’s death was a vaping-related lung injury after lung samples were taken. The release said he had a history of vaping that started in May of 2019 and had normal lung function prior to starting vaping.

The press release from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services said the man developed mild respiratory symptoms that worsened, leading to hospitalization on Aug. 22 before being transferred to Mercy in St. Louis on Sept. 4.

The second vaping-related death in Illinois was reported in October.

DHSS is asking anyone who uses vaping products to seek medical care if they experience the following symptoms:

• Cough, shortness of breath or chest pain
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Fatigue, fever, or weight loss
• Elevated heart rate

https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/woman-second-vaping-related-death-reported-in-missouri/63-5fbfe3fb-415b-4ddb-b0ed-51c7ccfaecbc

[niman]

Health officials report 2nd Mo. vaping-related death

By Ben Matthews ~ [email protected]

Friday, November 15, 2019

Public health officials on Thursday reported a second Missourian's death has been associated with the use of e-cigarettes or vaping.

According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, the death occurred this week and the deceased Missourian was a woman in her mid-50s.

No specific information about the death was disclosed in the report, which said health officials and medical staff "concluded that vaping was a contributing factor to the female's death who was experiencing a long-standing underlying chronic lung condition."

The state's first vaping-related death was reported by public health officials Sept. 19, when lung samples were used to determine a St. Louis man's death was related to vaping.

State health officials began requiring physicians to report possible vaping-related illnesses to the department in late August, and a total of 35 Missouri cases have found either confirmed or probable associations between lung injury and e-cigarettes.

Information about the outbreak of vaping-related deaths is available on the Center for Disease Control's website with updates every Thursday. As of this week, 42 deaths in 24 states have been confirmed as e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury (EVALI).

Thursday's data showed a total of 2,172 cases of EVALI have been recorded across the country in every state but Alaska. According to data from Oct. 15, 70% of reported cases involved male patients.

"Sadly, we report the tragic impact e-cigarettes have had on another Missourian, and we send our condolences to her family," Missouri DHSS director Dr. Randall Williams stated in the Thursday news release. "As previously stated, we encourage Missourians to follow the CDC guidance to refrain from using e-cigarette products if you are concerned about these specific health risks, especially while the investigation is ongoing."

The Thursday report from public health officials said the lung illnesses are likely associated with a chemical exposure from vaping. The DHSS and the CDC advise anyone who uses vaping products to seek medical care promptly if experiencing any of the following symptoms: cough, shortness of breath or chest pain; nausea, vomiting or diarrhea; fatigue, fever or weight loss; and elevated heart rate.

For more information, visit the DHSS webpage for the lung injury outbreak.

https://www.semissourian.com/story/2648650.html

[niman]

New data on Missouri’s vaping-related lung injury outbreak are posted each week on Thursday

Cases *	Deaths **
35	2

Updated Nov. 13, 2019
* Case means evidence of respiratory illness, with no other cause identified, and reported vaping in the last 90 days.
** Death included in the number of cases.

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Ages – 15-55 years. Median age - 22 years.

 

https://health.mo.gov/living/wellness/tobacco/lung-injury-outbreak/outbreak-updates.php