神秘的肺部疾病大爆发或许与电子烟有关
US public health officials warned Americans who aren't already smokers to avoid e-cigarettes and other vaping devices after a mysterious outbreak of a severe lung disease emerged in recent weeks, which has sickened at least 215 people across 25 states and been linked to at least one death. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are working with state health departments to try to figure out what is causing the damage, which they say has been tied to vaping. In many cases, patients reported using products that included cannabis or THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, before falling ill. The agencies also cautioned against altering commercial devices or consuming home-brew substances. "Anyone who uses e-cigarette products should not buy these products off the street and should not modify e-cigarette products or add any substances to these products that are not intended by the manufacturer," CDC Director Robert Redfield and acting FDA Commissioner Ned Sharpless said in the statement. "Regardless of the ongoing investigation, e-cigarette products should not be used by youth, young adults, pregnant women, as well as adults who do not currently use tobacco products." Many people believe vaping is safer than traditional cigarettes and tobacco, which kill 8 million people each year due to cancer, health disease and other conditions, according to the World Health Organization. E-cigarettes are seen as an alternative that could help smokers quit and save lives, though health officials are still working to understand their side effects and risks as they become more and more popular. |