Connecticut Running Totals

[niman]

The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) today is reporting that it has learned of two more Connecticut residents who have been hospitalized for severe lung injury possibly related to using e-cigarettes or vaping, bringing the total to 13 cases that have been reported to DPH. Twelve of the 13 patients have now been discharged from hospitals. The 13 cases involve residents from five of our counties:  Fairfield (7), New Haven (3), New London (1), Tolland (1), and Windham (1).

https://portal.ct.gov/DPH/Press-Room/Press-Releases---2019/DPH-Reports-two-additional-Cases-of-Severe-Lung-Injury-Related-to-Vaping

Edited September 25, 2019 by niman

[niman]

09/19/2019

Department of Public Health Reports two additional Cases of Severe Lung Injury Related to Vaping, for a total of 13 cases; one person currently hospitalized

Consumers should avoid buying vaping products off the street or from another person, including a friend

The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) today is reporting that it has learned of two more Connecticut residents who have been hospitalized for severe lung injury possibly related to using e-cigarettes or vaping, bringing the total to 13 cases that have been reported to DPH. Twelve of the 13 patients have now been discharged from hospitals. The 13 cases involve residents from five of our counties:  Fairfield (7), New Haven (3), New London (1), Tolland (1), and Windham (1).

The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) is participating in the national investigation of vaping-related lung illnesses that is being led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  So far, DPH has interviewed 9 of the 13 patients with vaping-related lung injury.  All nine reporting using vaping products containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a psychoactive component of the marijuana plant.  These products were purchased from another person (6 cases), bought from a dispensary (1 case), purchased but not from a dispensary (1 case), and given product by another person (1 case).  Three of the nine reported using e-cigarette products containing nicotine, in addition to products containing THC. 

“I am asking Connecticut residents to consider not using e-cigarette or vaping products while the investigation is ongoing and the search for the exact causes of these lung illnesses continues,” said DPH Commissioner Renée D. Coleman-Mitchell.  “If you chose to continue vaping, you should avoid buying vaping products off the street or from another person, including a friend.”

As of September 17, 2019, 530 cases of lung injury associated with the use of e-cigarette or vaping products have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Until more is known about the exact cause or causes of these illnesses: 

• Anyone who uses an e-cigarette or vaping product should not buy these products (e.g., e-cigarette or vaping products with THC, other cannabinoids) off the street, and should not modify or add any substances to these products that are not intended by the manufacturer.
• Youth and young adults should not use e-cigarette or vaping products.
• Women who are pregnant should not use e-cigarette or vaping products.
• Adults who do not currently use tobacco products should not start using e-cigarette or vaping products.

More information about the investigation can be found on CDC’s webpage: https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/severe-lung-disease.html#latest-outbreak-information

[niman]

Press Releases

09/26/2019

Department of Public Health Reports 18th Case of Lung Injury Related to Vaping

Commissioner Adding Vaping-Related Lung Disease to List of Reportable Health Conditions; Recommends Residents Consider Not Using Vaping Products

The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) today is reporting that it has learned of five more Connecticut residents who were ill with lung injuries possibly related to using e-cigarettes or vaping, bringing the total to 18 cases that have been reported to DPH.  All of the patients who had been hospitalized with vaping-related lung injury have now been discharged from the hospital.  Of those who were hospitalized, half required treatment in an intensive care unit.  The 18 cases involve residents from six of our counties: Fairfield (9), New Haven (5), Hartford (1), New London (1), Tolland (1), and Windham (1). The age breakdown of the patients is as follows: Under 18 years of age (4) 18 to 34 years of age (11); 35 years of age and older (3).

https://portal.ct.gov/DPH/Press-Room/Press-Releases---2019/Department-of-Public-Health-Reports-18th-Case-of-Lung-Injury-Related-to-Vaping

[niman]

The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) today is reporting the first death in the state associated with the national outbreak of lung injuries related to vaping.  This outbreak is being investigated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), clinicians, and state and local health departments across the country. The Connecticut patient, who was between the ages of 30 and 39 years, died last week while hospitalized for multiple medical conditions. 

https://portal.ct.gov/DPH/Press-Room/Press-Releases---2019/Department-of-Public-Health-Reports-Death-in-a-Patient-with-Lung-Injury-Related-to-Vaping

[niman]

Press Releases

10/03/2019

Department of Public Health Reports Death in a Patient with Lung Injury Related to Vaping

Total of 25 Cases Under Investigation in Connecticut

The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) today is reporting the first death in the state associated with the national outbreak of lung injuries related to vaping.  This outbreak is being investigated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), clinicians, and state and local health departments across the country. The Connecticut patient, who was between the ages of 30 and 39 years, died last week while hospitalized for multiple medical conditions. 

“Sadly, one of our residents with vaping-related lung injury has died,” said DPH Commissioner Renée D. Coleman-Mitchell. “Our prayers go out to the family. We are working with the CDC along with health departments across the country to find out what the specific causes of these injuries are to educate the public by providing the information needed to mitigate the risk of illness and death.”

In addition to the patient who died, six more Connecticut residents who were ill with lung injuries possibly related to using e-cigarettes or vaping were reported to DPH last week, bringing the total to 25 cases that have been reported to DPH. One patient remains in the hospital. The 25 cases involve residents from seven of our counties: Fairfield (11), New Haven (8), New London (2), Hartford (1), Litchfield (1), Tolland (1), and Windham (1). The age breakdown of the patients is as follows: Under 18 years of age (5), 18 to 34 years of age (13); 35 years of age and older (7).

“I am asking Connecticut residents to not use e-cigarette or vaping products,” said DPH Commissioner Renée D. Coleman-Mitchell.  “If you choose to continue vaping, you should not buy vaping products off the street or from another person, including a friend, or modify or add any other unregulated substances to these products.”

According to CDC, as of today 1080 cases of vaping-related lung injury had been reported from 48 states and 1 U.S. territory. The CDC also reports 18 deaths had been confirmed in 15 states.  These numbers do not yet include the death from Connecticut reported in this news release.  Connecticut  DPH consulted with CDC experts to confirm that the death of the Connecticut patient was a death among a person with vaping-related lung injury and part of this national outbreak.

Youth, young adults, and women who are pregnant should not use e-cigarette or vaping products.

In Connecticut, symptoms among cases included shortness of breath, fever, cough, vomiting and diarrhea. Other symptoms reported by some patients included headache, weight loss and chest pain.

More information about the investigation can be found on CDC’s webpage:

https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/severe-lung-disease.html

[niman]

six more Connecticut residents who were ill with lung injuries possibly related to using e-cigarettes or vaping were reported to DPH last week, bringing the total to 25 cases that have been reported to DPH. One patient remains in the hospital. The 25 cases involve residents from seven of our counties: Fairfield (11), New Haven (8), New London (2), Hartford (1), Litchfield (1), Tolland (1), and Windham (1). The age breakdown of the patients is as follows: Under 18 years of age (5), 18 to 34 years of age (13); 35 years of age and older (7).

https://portal.ct.gov/DPH/Press-Room/Press-Releases---2019/Department-of-Public-Health-Reports-Death-in-a-Patient-with-Lung-Injury-Related-to-Vaping

Edited October 10, 2019 by niman

[niman]

The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) today is reporting six more Connecticut residents who were ill with lung injuries possibly related to using e-cigarettes or vaping were reported to DPH, bringing the total to 31 cases that have been reported to DPH. Three patients remain in the hospital.

The 31 cases involve residents from seven counties in Connecticut: Fairfield (16), New Haven (8), New London (3), Hartford (1), Litchfield (1), Tolland (1), and Windham (1). The age breakdown of the patients is as follows: Under 18 years of age (5), 18 to 24 years of age (7), 25 to 34 years of age (8), 35 years of age and older (11). Out of the total of 31 patients, 29 were hospitalized between June-October 2019 (see figure below); one patient was hospitalized in December 2018 and one patient was not hospitalized.

https://portal.ct.gov/DPH/Press-Room/Press-Releases---2019/DPH-Reports-a-Total-31-Cases-of-Vaping-Related-Lung-Injury-in-CT

[niman]

The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) today is reporting three more Connecticut residents who were ill with lung injuries possibly related to using e-cigarettes or vaping, bringing the total to 34 cases that have been reported to DPH since the middle of August. Two patients remain in the hospital.

The 34 cases involve residents from seven Connecticut counties: Fairfield (17), New Haven (9), New London (3), Hartford (2), Litchfield (1), Tolland (1), and Windham (1). The age breakdown of the patients is as follows: Under 18 years of age (5), 18 to 24 years of age (9), 25 to 34 years of age (8), 35 years of age and older (12).

https://portal.ct.gov/DPH/Press-Room/Press-Releases---2019/Number-of-Vaping-Related-Lung-Injury-Cases-in-CT-Climbs-to-34

[niman]

The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) today is reporting four more Connecticut residents who were ill with lung injuries possibly related to using e-cigarettes or vaping, bringing the total to 38 cases that have been reported to DPH. One patient remains in the hospital.  The 38 cases involve residents from seven Connecticut counties: Fairfield (17), New Haven (9), Hartford (4), New London (3), Tolland (3), Litchfield (1), and Windham (1). The age breakdown of the patients is as follows: Under 18 years of age (5), 18 to 24 years of age (11), 25 to 34 years of age (9), 35 years of age and older (13).

https://portal.ct.gov/DPH/Press-Room/Press-Releases---2019/DPH-Now-Reporting-Total-of-38-Cases-of-Vaping-Related-Lung-Injury-in-CT