The Vermont Department of Health is requesting medical providers report to the state cases of significant respiratory illness associated with vaping. The move comes in response to a nationwide increase in the use of e-cigarettes and vaping products, especially among young people.
So far, 215 possible cases of severe pulmonary disease associated with e-cigarettes and two deaths have been reported across the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Vermont, since the health department first asked for reports on Aug. 29, one case of significant pulmonary illness has been reported. No specifics about that case have been made public.
There is a set list of reportable conditions that the health department is allowed to ask for information on — typically, infectious diseases. However, they also ask for data on conditions that might pose a public health risk — officials say vaping has now risen to that level.
“This outbreak is disturbing, particularly because of how serious the symptoms are and how little we know about their cause,” Health Commissioner Mark Levine said in a statement. “We want to make sure we identify any Vermonters affected by this illness to better understand the situation.”
The information will be collected about any cases involving individuals with a history of vaping or smoking any substance in the 90 days prior to symptoms, and shared with the CDC.
“It might not teach us a whole lot in Vermont,” said State Epidemiologist Patsy Kelso. “But added to the information from cases across the country, we’re hopeful that it will contribute to our understanding of whether there are certain risk factors more strongly associated with these severe pulmonary illnesses.”
She said although “severe pulmonary disease” isn’t a set category, it typically means that patients are having to be put on a ventilator, or given supplemental oxygen in order to breathe.
Health officials haven’t isolated a single substance or product associated with illness, though a health advisory from the CDC noted that all the people affected reported e-cigarette use, and many reporting they vaped cannabinoid products like THC or CBD.
“We can’t rule out nicotine liquid and say it’s just certain THC products, and we can’t pin it down to just one part of THC distribution,” Kelso said. “That’s the type of thing we’re trying to understand.”
She did note that it’s probably best to purchase products from a store, and avoid buying them off the street, though she said without much data, they can’t even say that for sure.
“We just need more information so that we can try and find the cause of this and prevent additional cases,” Kelso said.
The 2017 Vermont Youth Risk Behavior Survey found 34% of students reported ever trying e-cigarettes. Twelve percent of high school students in Vermont said they’d used vapor products in the last 30 days, and 15% reported every day use.
On Sept. 1, a law went into effect raising the legal age of purchase for cigarettes and e-cigarettes, from 18 to 21. Advocates say this will help to reduce youth substance use.
