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Kentucky on guard as illnesses tied to vaping spreads

Posted at 6:59 AM, Sep 10, 2019
and last updated 2019-09-10 06:59:41-04

LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — Vaping and e-cigarette use has been tied to five deaths in the U.S., according to federal health officials.

Another at least 450 have a lung illness related to e-cigarettes in one U.S. territory and 33 states, including Kentucky.

Early September the Kentucky Department for Public Health released a letter to healthcare providers warning of the "possibility of seeing patients with progressive, severe pulmonary disease related to the use of e-cigarettes or 'vaping.'"

The letter also asked clinicians to report vaping cases to the health department.

It also suggested they collect vaping fluids and devices that the patient used for more research.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports lung illness is likely associated with the chemical exposure that is in e-cigarettes.

Substances inside e-cigarettes can included nicotine, THC and synthetic cannabinoids.

Many admitted to the hospital for these lung illnesses are facing symptoms such as a cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, fever and weight loss.