The American Medical Association has warned e-cigarette users not to use vaping devices until the source of the outbreak of vaping-related lung disease is discovered, according to an organization statement by AMA president Patrice A. Harris, MD, MA.
“In light of increasing reports of e-cigarette-associated lung illnesses across the country, the AMA urges the public to avoid the use of e-cigarette products until health officials further investigate and understand the cause of these illnesses,” Harris said in a press release. “The AMA recommends anyone who has recently used e-cigarette products to seek medical care promptly if they experience any adverse health effects, particularly coughing, shortness of breath or chest pain. The AMA also calls on physicians to make sure their patients are aware of the dangers of e-cigarettes, including toxins and carcinogens, and swiftly report any suspected cases of lung illness associated with e-cigarette use to their state or local health department.”

The US has experienced a surge of vaping-related illnesses in 33 states and the USVI. Over 450 cases of pulmonary disease tied to vaping have spread through the country, including 6 deaths, as of Friday morning, according to CNN.com.

“The e-cigarette-related lung illnesses currently sweeping across the country reaffirm our belief that the use of e-cigarettes and vaping is an urgent public health epidemic that must be addressed,” Harris said. “We must not stand by while e-cigarettes continue to go unregulated. We urge the US FDA to speed up the regulation of e-cigarettes and remove all unregulated products from the market. We also call on the FDA to immediately ban flavors, as well as marketing practices, that enhance the appeal of e-cigarette products to youth.”