The State Department of Health is investigating two additional cases of lung injury related to the use of e-cigarette or vaping products.
This brings the current number of confirmed cases in the state to four, with one individual confirmed in each county. Two of the individuals are adolescents, and two are adults, according to the DOH. All were hospitalized and have recovered.
The DOH advises everyone “to stop vaping, no matter the substance or source, until current nationwide investigations are complete.”
“E-cigarettes and vaping products are not safe,” said Director of Health Bruce Anderson. “The public should refrain from using these products, regardless of whether they contain nicotine or THC.”
As of Nov. 13, 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reports 2,172 confirmed and probable lung injury cases associated with use of e-cigarettes or vaping products reported by 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
This includes 42 deaths confirmed in 24 states and the District of Columbia.
FDA and state health laboratories have detected vitamin E acetate — a synthetic form of vitamin E — in a sample of vaping fluids also containing tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the main active compound in marijuana.
In a sample of lung fluid from 29 ill patients, all 29 were positive for vitamin E acetate. Twenty, or 69%, of these patients stated they were vaping marijuana.
Other patients using nicotine, or a combination of nicotine and THC have also developed symptoms.
Although there may be a link between THC and vitamin E, the exact cause of the vaping injury and deaths is unknown. DOH recommends that persons should not use e-cigarettes of any kind (marijuana or nicotine) and especially those containing vitamin E acetate.
Those who have recently used a vaping device and are experiencing symptoms including coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, fever, or abdominal pain should see a health care provider.
They also can call the Hawaii Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222 at any time 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
See Saturday’s Tribune-Herald for more on this story.