34 deaths and 1604 cases of lung illness related to e-cigarette use in the United States

As of October 22, 2019, 1,604* cases of e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury (EVALI) have been reported to CDC from 49 states (all except Alaska), the District of Columbia, and 1 U.S. territory.

Thirty-four deaths have been confirmed in 24 states
Latest outbreak information is updated every Thursday.

About Patient Exposure:All EVALI patients have reported a history of using e-cigarette, or vaping, products.THC is present in most of the samples tested by FDA to date, and most patients report a history of using THC-containing products.The latest national and state findings suggest products containing THC, particularly those obtained off the street or from other informal sources (e.g. friends, family members, illicit dealers), are linked to most of the cases and play a major role in the outbreak.

What We Don't Know

At this time, FDA and CDC have not identified the cause or causes of the lung injuries in these cases, and the only commonality among all cases is that patients report the use of e-cigarette, or vaping, products.
No one compound or ingredient has emerged as the cause of these illnesses to date; and it may be that there is more than one cause of this outbreak. Many different substances and product sources are still under investigation. The specific chemical exposure(s) causing lung injuries associated with e-cigarette product use, or vaping, remains unknown at this time

What CDC Recommends

CDC recommends that you do not use e-cigarette, or vaping, products that contain THC.
CDC also recommends that people should not:
Buy any type of e-cigarette, or vaping, products, particularly those containing THC, off the street.
Modify or add any substances to e-cigarette, or vaping, products that are not intended by the manufacturer, including products purchased through retail establishments.
Since the specific compound or ingredient causing lung injury are not yet known, the only way to assure that you are not at risk while the investigation continues is to consider refraining from use of all e-cigarette, or vaping, products.
If you are an adult using e-cigarettes, or vaping, products, to quit smoking, do not return to smoking cigarettes. Adults addicted to nicotine using e-cigarettes should weigh all risks and benefits and consider utilizing FDA-approved nicotine replacement therapiesexternal icon.
If people continue to use an e-cigarette, or vaping, product, carefully monitor yourself for symptoms and see a healthcare provider immediately if you develop symptoms like those reported in this outbreak.

Irrespective of the ongoing investigation:

E-cigarette, or vaping, products should never be used by youths, young adults, or women who are pregnant.
Adults who do not currently use tobacco products should not start using e-cigarette, or vaping, products. There is no safe tobacco product. All tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, carry a risk.
THC use has been associated with a wide range of health effects, particularly with prolonged heavy use. The best way to avoid potentially harmful effects is to not use THC, including through e-cigarette, or vaping, products. Persons with marijuana use disorder should seek evidence-based treatment by a health care provider.
CDC will continue to update guidance, as appropriate, as new data emerges from this complex outbreak.

Key Facts about Use of E-Cigarette, or Vaping, Products

Electronic cigarettes — or e-cigarettes — are also called vapes, e-hookahs, vape pens, tank systems, mods, and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS).
Using an e-cigarette product is commonly called vaping.
E-cigarettes work by heating a liquid to produce an aerosol that users inhale into their lungs.
The liquid can contain: nicotine, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabinoid (CBD) oils, and other substances and additives. THC is the psychoactive mind-altering compound of marijuana that produces the “high”.

Latest Outbreak Information

Updated every Thursday

This complex investigation spans almost all states, involves over a thousand patients, and a wide variety of brands and substances and e-cigarette, or vaping, products. Case counts continue to increase and new cases are being reported, which makes it more difficult to determine the cause or causes of this outbreak.
As of October 22, 2019, 1,604* cases of e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury (EVALI) have been reported to CDC from 49 states (all except Alaska), the District of Columbia, and 1 U.S. territory.
Thirty-four deaths have been confirmed in 24 states: Alabama, California (3), Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia (2), Illinois (2), Indiana (3), Kansas (2), Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota (3), Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Oregon (2), Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Virginia. More deaths are under investigation.
Data on age, sex, and substances used in e-cigarette, or vaping, products will be updated in the MMWR report being released on Friday, October 25, 2019.
See CDC’s Lung Injury cases map and bar chart of dates of symptoms onset and hospital admission for Patients with e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury (EVALI) for more details.

What CDC is Doing

Public Health Response:

CDC’s Lung Injury response efforts are committed to:
Identify and define the risk factors and the source for lung disease associated with e-cigarette product use, or vaping.
Detect and track confirmed and probable cases in the US.
Communicate actionable recommendations to state, local, and clinical audiences.
Establish lab procedures that can assist with the public heath investigation and patient care.

Partnerships:

CDC is working 24/7 to identify the cause or causes of this outbreak through partnerships with states and other federal agencies.
CDC continues to work closely with FDA, states, public health partners, and clinicians on this investigation by providing consultation and technical assistance to states on communication, health alerts, public outreach, and surveillance.
CDC has activated the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to coordinate activities and provide assistance to states, public health partners and clinicians around the nation.
CDC worked with states to create primary and out-of-hospital case definitions to classify confirmed and probable cases in a consistent way. States are in the process of classifying patients.
We expect that states and clinicians may look back for past lung injury cases based on CDC’s case definition CDC will report numbers of confirmed and probable lung injury cases once states have finalized their classification of cases.
By invitation, CDC has deployed Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) officers and other CDC staff to support states.

Media and Communication:

CDC is maintaining an outbreak webpage with key messages and weekly updates on case counts, deaths, and resources.
CDC is holding congressional briefings, media telebriefings, and regular calls with health departments, clinicians to provide timely updates.

Laboratory Testing:

CDC and FDA are expanding the range of available laboratory testing.
CDC is currently testing bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid samples, as well as blood or urine samples paired to BAL fluid samples.
CDC is testing pathologic specimens, including lung biopsy or autopsy specimens, associated with patients.
CDC is offering aerosol emission testing of case-associated product samples from e-cigarette, or vaping, products and e-liquids. Analysis of aerosol emissions will augment FDA’s ongoing work to characterize e-liquid and will improve our understanding of exposure among case-patients associated with the Lung Injury outbreak. CDC is coordinating e-cigarette, or vaping, product analysis with FDA.
Results may provide insight into the nature of the chemical exposure(s) contributing to this outbreak.
CDC developed guidance documents for were created to assist public health laboratories, healthcare providers, and pathologists, and others, with specimen collection, storage, and submission.
For more information and resources visit For the Public, For Healthcare Providers and For State and Local Health Departments as well as our Publications and Resources page.