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All-time high youth vaping in the country has prompted calls for action to stem their use.
In 2019, 27.5 percent of high schoolers used an e-cigarette within the previous month, compared to 20.8 percent in 2018.
NEW YORK, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- The United States has recorded more than 450 people sickened and at least six killed in an outbreak of vaping-related lung diseases, exacerbating longstanding concerns about the risks of using e-cigarette products, especially among the youth.
In June, San Francisco became the first U.S. city to ban e-cigarette sales. Last week, Michigan became the first U.S. state to ban flavored vaping products.
Following on the heels of these moves, the administration of Donald Trump announced Wednesday a plan to ban the sale of flavored e-cigarettes, as the president called on health authorities to get to the bottom of the outbreak.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will finalize a policy in the coming weeks that would clear the market of unauthorized, non-tobacco-flavored e-cigarette products, according to the U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS).
"The Trump Administration is making it clear that we intend to clear the market of flavored e-cigarettes to reverse the deeply concerning epidemic of youth e-cigarette use that is impacting children, families, schools and communities," said HHS Secretary Alex Azar.
"We will not stand idly by as these products become an on-ramp to combustible cigarettes or nicotine addiction for a generation of youth," Azar said.
E-cigarettes have been embraced as a less harmful way to satisfy smokers' nicotine addiction, but all-time high youth vaping in the country has prompted calls for action to stem their use.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that in 2019, 27.5 percent of high schoolers used an e-cigarette within the previous month, compared to 20.8 percent in 2018.
Flavored vape juice, like fruit, menthol and mint are the most popular among teens.
"The use of e-cigarettes is unsafe for kids, teens, and young adults. Young people who use e-cigarettes may be more likely to smoke cigarettes in the future," the CDC warned on its website.
The FDA and CDC are working with state and local health officials to investigate the multistate outbreak of severe pulmonary disease associated with e-cigarette product use.
"This investigation is ongoing and has not identified a cause, but all reported cases have a history of using e-cigarette products," the CDC said in a statement Wednesday.
As of Sept. 6, more than 450 possible cases of lung illness associated with the use of e-cigarette products had been reported from 33 U.S. states and one U.S. territory, namely the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Six deaths have been confirmed in California, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, and Oregon.
While this investigation is underway, health authorities have cautioned against using e-cigarette products. ■
