October 3, 2019

Vaping-associated Pulmonary Illness - Reporting Now Required

The purpose of this health advisory is to inform clinicians that, effective immediately, and pursuant to 22 M.R.S. 802(1)(B), pulmonary disease associated with e-cigarette use is now temporarily added to the list of Notifiable Conditions that are required to be reported to Maine CDC.

Summary: There has been an increase in the number of cases of significant lung illness related to e-cigarette use in Maine. As of Wednesday, October 2, four additional cases of lung illness related to e-cigarette use have been confirmed, bringing Maine's total to five cases. No deaths from this illness have been reported in Maine.

Recommendations: Consider e-cigarette-associated illness with patients who present with respiratory illness of unclear etiology and who have vaped or dabbed within the past 90 days. Clinicians should ask about and document extent of use, type of instrument used, type of vaping liquid used (i.e. nicotine, THC), place of purchase, and if the patient still has the vaping liquid they used. Clinicians should also complete a respiratory viral panel and test for influenza to rule out a possible viral cause of illness.

Reporting: Clinicians should report cases with onset on or after May 1, 2019, that meet the criteria of (1) significant respiratory illness of unclear etiology and (2) a history of vaping. All suspect cases should be reported by phone to Maine CDCs 24/7 disease reporting and consultation line at 1-800-821-5821 or by fax to 1-800-293-7534 using the Disease Reporting Form (attached).

Attention: On October 9, 2019, Maine CDC will be hosting a live webinar to discuss pulmonary illness associated with e-cigarette use. More information to follow.

Advisory (PDF) | Disease Reporting Form