KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Centers for Disease Control said Thursday it has received 805 confirmed and probable cases of lung injuries tied to vaping, including 13 deaths in 11 states.
Of the 805 vaping-illness cases, 36 are from Tennessee. The CDC has received reports of vaping-related illnesses in 46 states as well as the Virgin Islands.
The CDC said it has not identified any specific ingredient or product as the cause of the illness, but all of the patients reported a history of vaping.
Since the beginning of August, East Tennessee Children's Hospital has reported three cases of illness that could be related to vaping.
The latest numbers come one day after crews airlifted a student at Sequoyah High School to the hospital for "a medical emergency due to vaping," according to Monroe County Schools director Dr. Deanna McLendon.
A statement from McClendon indicated Monroe County Schools will launch an educational campaign on the potential dangers of vaping.
Health officials said even without this recent rash of severe illnesses, vaping and e-cigarettes should not be used by young people.
"It is important to educate yourself with information from trusted sources, then have an open dialogue with young people. Instead of coming at it with a really punitive approach, knocking them over the head, I think there's a way to have a discussion where you ask young people what they think about vaping," said Kerri Thompson with the Knox County Health Department.
Thompson recommended familiarizing yourself with the various devices on the market to identify vaping products. Furthermore, realize all products can be altered from what is sold in stores.
"Most devices on the market and e-cigarettes can be hacked. So, they can contain other things besides nicotine," said Thompson.
Even in the best case, vaping and e-cigarettes often deliver large quantities of nicotine. Thompson said vaping is not for youth.
"The brain is still developing until you are in your mid-20s. With these products, it is a foreign substance that is being directly inhaled into the lungs. Nicotine is hitting the blood stream and going to the brain to cause those changes in brain development and cause an addiction," said Thompson. "We do not need to cause a new generation of nicotine-addicted individuals. And keeping that out of the hands of youth, making sure you have an open dialogue with students and your child about these products, and becoming an informed person yourself is important."