Health

The CDC Has Announced Major Breakthrough in Mysterious Vaping Lung Illness Investigation

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday that samples of lung fluid from 29 lung injury patients in 10 states all contained the same chemical. The CDC's discovery is a major step forward in the battle to identify the cause of a mysterious lung illness caused by vaping that has caused multiple deaths across the United States, including the U.S. Virgin Islands. “There is also a growing number of cases in the Virgin Islands that are being investigated,” Dr. Esther Ellis, epidemiologist for Virgin Islands Department of Health said in September. As of November 5, 39 people have died of the injury, and 2,051 cases are being investigated. The chemical, called vitamin E acetate is now considered a “chemical of concern” by the CDC. The federal agency said that vitamin E acetate is an oily substance found in many household items, including foods, supplements, and even skin creams. “Vitamin E acetate usually does not cause harm when ingested as a vitamin supplement or ap...