DeKALB – The Illinois Department of Public Health issued a public health concern after a multistate outbreak of severe lung injury associated with the use of e-cigarettes and vaping products, according to a news release from the Northern Illinois Rockford Region of the IDPH.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Food and Drug Administration and local health departments are investigating the outbreak. State and local public health departments lead the investigation.
IDPH Northern Illinois Rockford Region issued a joint statement for all nine of its counties. The region serves DeKalb County, its surrounding counties Ogle, Lee and Winnebago, as well as other northern Illinois counties, Boone, Carroll, Jo Daviess, Stephenson and Whiteside.
“The nine local health departments are aware of and are deeply concerned by the growing epidemic affecting mainly our young people,” accord to the release. The departments are also alarmed that the epidemic can’t be traced to a specific company product or component.
Patients have reported symptoms including coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, fatigue, fever and weight loss, according to the CDC.
As a precaution, all residents are urged to:
• Refrain from using the products
• If currently using e-cigarettes containing nicotine to quit cigarette smoking, do not return to smoking cigarettes. Call the Illinois Tobacco Quitline at 1-866-QUIT-YES.
• Monitor for symptoms and contact a health care provider for concerns
• If symptoms are similar to those reported in the outbreak, seek a health care provider
• Do not buy related products off the street and do not modify or add any substances after-market
Source: The Daily Chronicle
Be First to Comment