2nd Case Of Vaping-Related Illness Confirmed In Colorado

AURORA, CO — A second case of a vaping-related illness has been confirmed in Colorado, state health officials said. In a press conference Thursday, Colorado Department of Health representative Tony Cappello said both cases were found in young adults in Front Range communities.

Many states have seen a spike in vaping-related illnesses, health officials said. Symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain, vomiting, coughing and a fever. Many people's bodies appear to suffer symptoms of an inhalation injury. More than 200 suspected cases have been reported in 22 states, Cappello said.

Colorado has an unusually high rate of teen and young adult nicotine vaping, health officials said.

"Vaping products contain more than just harmless water vapor," the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said in a media release. "The agents causing this illness could possibly be pesticide contamination, residual solvent contamination, additives with unknown inhalation effects, or heavy metals contamination inhaled from vaping products."

"Colorado clinicians, school-based health centers, campus health centers, parents, and people who vape should be aware that this outbreak is occurring and be on the lookout for symptoms."

The state public health department said it plans to update information on its vaping and lung illness web page.

Gregory Conley, President of the American Vaping Association, released the following statement after the press conference in Colorado:

Multiple health departments are now linking street vapes containing THC or synthetic drugs to these illnesses, not nicotine vaping products. Some of these amateur-made THC products may contain very high levels of certain pesticides that convert to hydrogen cyanide when heated. While this investigation unfolds, we urge marijuana users to stay away from black market THC vaping products.

The CDC and FDA have a critical role to play in not just promptly investigating these incidents, but also ensuring that adult smokers know that nicotine vaping products remain a far safer alternative to smoking.

Health departments in California, New Mexico, and other states have shown an admirable commitment to releasing accurate and useful information to the public about what is likely causing these illnesses. With all we know today, the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment's failure to specifically warn about using black market THC vaping products displays a gross lack of responsibility.