British Columbia Running Totals

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Thread for British Columbia vaping (EVALI) cases.

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There's at least one probable case of vaping-related illness in B.C., the province's health officer announced Wednesday.

Dr. Bonnie Henry said the victim is a "young person" who had only vaped nicotine products. The person has since recovered.

"We don't yet know the exact cause of the illnesses we're seeing," Henry said. "That's why we're doing these very detailed investigations and we're sharing it across the country."

https://bc.ctvnews.ca/first-probable-vaping-related-illness-found-in-b-c-1.4641708

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First probable vaping-related illness found in B.C.

Megan Devlin, Web Journalist, CTV Vancouver

@MegDevlinn

Published Wednesday, October 16, 2019 2:58PM PDT
Last Updated Wednesday, October 16, 2019 6:43PM PDT

VANCOUVER - There's at least one probable case of vaping-related illness in B.C., the province's health officer announced Wednesday.

Dr. Bonnie Henry said the victim is a "young person" who had only vaped nicotine products. The person has since recovered.

"We don't yet know the exact cause of the illnesses we're seeing," Henry said. "That's why we're doing these very detailed investigations and we're sharing it across the country."

 

PHOTOS

 

In this April 11, 2018, file photo, an unidentified 15-year-old high school student uses a vaping device near the school's campus in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)

B.C. officials are also investigating seven more reports of vaping-related illnesses that could become confirmed cases in the coming weeks. Henry said she "fully expects" there will be more confirmed cases as this is quickly emerging as a "significant public health issue."

"Vaping is turning back the clock on decades of effective anti-smoking efforts and creating a new generation of young people addicted to nicotine."

Symptoms include severe inflammation of the lungs, a cough, shortness of breath, chest pain or a general unwell feeling. These symptoms are being seen in young, otherwise healthy people, Henry said.

Vaping-related illnesses became a reportable condition in B.C. on Sept. 19, 2019, meaning health-care providers who see patients that report using vapes or e-cigarettes before developing symptoms must report each instance to the BC Centre for Disease Control.

From there, public health officials investigate each report.

There have been two cases of severe lung illness related to vaping in New Brunswick, and a third in Quebec. In the U.S., vaping has made killed 26 people and made 1,300 more sick, according to the Centre for Disease Control.

Research from the U.S. suggests illegally-purchased vaping products containing THC, the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, could be playing a role in the outbreak. Canada's top doctors have urged all Canadians not to use any e-cigarettes or vaping device, whether legal or illegal.

Anyone who vapes and then develops symptoms of ill health is urged to see a health care provider.

https://bc.ctvnews.ca/first-probable-vaping-related-illness-found-in-b-c-1.4641708

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Probable case of vaping-related illness found in B.C.

Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, has confirmed the first probable case of a vaping-related illness in B.C.

There are several other investigations underway that may also meet the case definition of probable or confirmed vaping-related illness in the near future.

“These are the first cases of vaping-related illness in B.C., but we fully expect there will be more as this is quickly emerging as a significant public health issue,” Henry said. “Vaping is turning back the clock on decades of effective anti-smoking efforts and creating a new generation of young people addicted to nicotine.”

On Sept. 19, 2019, Henry issued a notice under the Reporting Information Affecting Public Health Regulation that requires physicians to report incidences of patients exhibiting symptoms that meet the national case definition.

This includes patients:

• who report vaping using e-cigarette devices, related products or other means of inhaling a variety of products in the 90 days before symptom onset,
• who have pulmonary infiltrates on X-ray imaging,  
• whose illnesses are not attributed to other causes.

All reports about vaping-related illness from people, health care providers, health authorities and Health Canada will be forwarded to the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) on behalf of the provincial health officer and will be investigated by public health officials. Only instances that are probable or confirmed will be reported to the public and media. Age, sex and location (including community, town or health authority jurisdiction) will remain confidential in every instance as these cases are being reported at a provincial level.

Making vaping a reportable illness assists public health experts in better understanding the impact of this emerging public health issue on the population in B.C. and will contribute to the knowledge base within North America.

Learn More:

For more information on the Reporting Information Affecting Public Health Regulation, visit: http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/167_2018#division_d1e787

Office of the Provincial Health Officer: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/current-health-topics

https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2019HLTH0143-001991