New York investigates 11 cases of vaping-associated pulmonary disease Advisory urges anyone experiencing symptoms to stop vaping, contact health provider

James Monsees, co-founder and chief executive of Juul, vapes at the company headquarters in San Francisco, May 17, 2018. (Jason Henry/The New York Times) James Monsees, co-founder and chief executive of Juul, vapes at the company headquarters in San Francisco, May 17, 2018. (Jason Henry/The New York Times) Photo: JASON HENRY Photo: JASON HENRY Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close New York investigates 11 cases of vaping-associated pulmonary disease 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

ALBANY — New York health officials are warning people who use vaping products to be on the lookout for respiratory issues as it investigates pulmonary disease cases that appear to be tied to vaping.

The state Department of Health issued a statewide health advisory Friday to health care providers following recent reported cases of pulmonary disease in New Yorkers who use vaping products. The department is currently investigating 11 cases statewide — most of them are in Western New York, but at least one is from the Capital Region.

The advisory alerts providers to the emerging health threat and lists symptoms they should look for in patients.

While no deaths have been reported to date, some patients have had progressive respiratory compromise — a deterioration in respiratory function with a high likelihood of rapid progression to respiratory failure and death — requiring endotracheal intubation. Various symptoms have been reported upon presentation, including headache, fatigue, nausea, cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, fever, diarrhea, anorexia and weight loss.

The department recommends that anyone who uses vaping products and has concerning respiratory symptoms should stop using the products and consult their healthcare provider.

"While many people consider vaping to be a less dangerous alternative to smoking cigarettes, it is not risk free," state Health Commissioner Howard Zucker said. "These latest reports of pulmonary disease in people using vaping products in New York and other states are proof that more study is needed on the long-term health effects of these products."

So far, the affected individuals have ranged in age from 18 to 49 and reported regular use of vaping products in the weeks to months prior to their symptoms presenting. Many of them reported vaping cannabis or nicotine-based products.

The department is investigating reported symptoms, health outcomes and possible causes of the symptoms, including the types of product being vaped and the method of delivery. It is also in the process of obtaining and testing samples from vaping products at the state's Wadsworth Center Laboratory to help determine a potential cause, and working with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other states that are seeing similar cases.

The New York Times reported Wednesday that nearly three dozen young people nationwide have been hospitalized in recent weeks for severe respiratory problems after vaping either nicotine or marijuana.

Most of the patients were having difficulty breathing when they arrived at the hospital, the report said. Some patients also reported chest pain, vomiting and other symptoms. Cases ranged in severity, with some patients sustaining severe lung damage that required weeks of intensive treatment.

Cases have been reported in Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin and California.