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, MIKE MURPHY, ONCE HEALTH OFFICIALS TO TAKE TIME TO STUDY THE SCIENCE TO FIND AN EXACT CAUSE OF THE ILLNESS. THE URGENT WARNING COMES AS OFFICIALS TALLIED 16 PEOPLE, ADULTS AND TEENS, DIAGNOSED WITH CHEMICAL PNEUMONIA. EACH REPORTED VAPING IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS BEFORE THEIR HEALTH DECLINE AFTER TWO PEOPLE, WE SHOULD PROBABLY HAVE SENT OUT WORD SOONER, BUT I’M GLAD WE’RE DOING IT NOW. >> MILWAUKEE ALDERMAN MIKE MURPHY SUPPORTS THE CITY’S HEALTH COMMISSIONER, WHO NOTED, THE MILWAUKEE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS COMMITTED TO PROTECTING THE PUBLIC FROM THE DANGERS. THE POTENTIAL CULPRITS, THE COMMISSIONER ADDS, NOT JUST VAPING PRODUCTS AND E-CIGARETTES, BUT ALSO MARIJUANA OILS, WHICH ARE ILLEGAL IN WISCONSIN. >> THEY’RE NOT REALLY SURE IF IT'S VAPE PRODUCTS THAT ARE LEGAL TO SELL HERE OR THC PRODUCTS THAT PEOPLE GET OFF THE STREETS. >> THAT’S PROBABLY PART OF IT, YOU KNOW, BUYER BEWARE, BUT YOU DON’T KNOW IF THOSE PRODUCTS ARE GETTING INTO A REGULAR STORE, EITHER. I WOULD BE VERY HESITANT ABOUT TAKING THAT GAMBLE. >> THE OTHER GAMBLE, STORE MANAGERS TELL ME, IS LUMPING ALL OF THE POSSIBLE CAUSES TOGETHER AND STOPPING JUST SHORT OF AN ALL OUT BAN WITHOUT PROVIDING AN EXACT CAUSE FOR THE ISSUES WHAT WILL THAT DO TO YOUR BUSINESS IF YOU SEE PEOPLE STOP USING VAPING PRODUCTS AND E-CIGARETTES? >> BUSINESS WILL START CRASHIN DOWN. >> I UNDERSTAND CITIZENS ARE GOING TO SAY AND BUSINESS OWNERS, ’HEY, THIS IS A LEG PRODUCT. I CAN SELL IT ,’AND THEY CAN. BUT I THINK THE HEALTH COMMISSIONER HAS TO TAKE IT TO A HIGHER LEVEL. PATRIC -- JOYCE: DERRICK, THIS IS THE SECOND TIME MILWAUKEE IS GETTING NATIONAL ATTENTION OVER VA

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The Milwaukee Health Department is issuing a stern warning against vaping."Stop using any vape and/or e-cigarette devices immediately," the department said Wednesday in a news release.As of Tuesday, the Health Department said there have been 16 people hospitalized with chemical pneumonia, which causes inflammation of the lungs."After two people, we should probably have sent out word sooner, but I'm glad we're doing it now," said Milwaukee Alderman Mike Murphy, who supports the Milwaukee Health Department's warning. The patients each reported using vape products or marijuana oils, extracts or concentrates in the weeks and months prior to hospitalization.The details of the causes were not yet known, the Health Department said."Residents are again strongly encouraged to not utilize any THC products containing e-liquid," the release said.The patients are from 10 Wisconsin counties.“We continue to learn more about the health effects associated with e-cigarettes. As the public health authority for the city, the MHD is committed to protecting the public from the dangers of secondhand exposure,” Commissioner of Health Dr. Jeanette Kowalik said."I understand citizens are going to say and business owners: 'Hey, this is a legal product. I can sell it.' They can, but I think the health commissioner has to take it to a higher level," Murphy said. Symptoms of chemical pneumonia include coughing, shortness of breath, fatigue, fever, chest pain, nausea and diarrhea.“The American Lung Association echoes the Milwaukee Health Department’s warning today to e-cigarette users: ‘Stop using any vape and/or e-cigarette devices immediately," the group said in a statement to WISN 12 News. "E-cigarettes contain toxic chemicals, heavy metals and fine particles, and the inhalation of these chemicals can cause irreversible lung damage and lung disease. The developing lungs of youth may be more at risk."Anyone experiencing symptoms is urged to contact a doctor.A vaping death was reported in Illinois last week.There have been at least 193 vaping-related illness cases reported in 22 states across the country.