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CDC activates emergency operations center for vaping-related lung illnesses
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The CDC has activated its emergency operations center to augment its efforts in the current interagency investigation of cases of lung injury associated with electronic cigarette use, or vaping, according to a press release.
“CDC has made it a priority to find out what is causing this outbreak of e-cigarette or vaping-related injuries and deaths,” Robert Redfield, MD, director of CDC, said in the release. “Activation of CDC’s emergency operations center allows us to enhance operations and provide additional support to CDC staff working to protect our nation from this serious health threat.”
Agency subject matter experts will continue to lead the CDC response with supplemental support from CDC and emergency operations center staff, according to the release.
As of Thursday, 380 confirmed and probable cases of respiratory illness associated with vaping, including six deaths, have been reported in 36 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. As previously reported by Healio Pulmonology, the CDC continues to work with the FDA during the investigation to collect information about recent e-cigarette product use and to test the substances or chemicals within e-cigarette products used by case patients.
Until the investigation has concluded, people should reconsider use of e-cigarette products, the CDC stated in the release.
During public health emergencies, the emergency operations center deploys scientific experts, coordinates delivery of supplies and equipment to the incident site, monitors response activities and provides resources to state and local public health departments. Since its inception, the emergency operations center has responded to more than 60 public health threats, including the current Ebola outbreak.