Wisconsin Officials: Dramatic Decline in EVALI Cases
photo: Jeremynathan | Dreamstime
The number of lung disease cases in Wisconsin has seen a dramatic decline. Only eight vaping-related injuries have been reported as of May 31. Last year, there were 103 cases, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, which tracks vaping-related injuries.
State health officials said they don’t know the reasons for the decline but suggest it could be due to the changes in the formulation of THC vaping products and fewer people using them, according to an article on wkow.com.
In 2019, CDC identified Vitamin E Acetate as the potential culprit behind thousands of vaping illnesses that sent several Wisconsin teens to the hospital resulting in significant lung damage.
“People producing these THC products have learned from this and have really improved their manufacturing standards and are doing a better job of keeping out the Vitamin E Acetate out of the products,” said Megan Piper, a researcher at the University of Wisconsin Tobacco Research Center.
Last year a DHS investigation found 89 percent of the 27 cases that reported lung disease due to vaping was tied to THC, the active ingredient in marijuana.
Another reason for the decline could be due to a flavor ban on Juul products and raising the tobacco age to 21 in Wisconsin, according to Piper.
“If your source for vaping products was informal, meaning you got it from someone from school, you no longer have those connections and your supply may have gone away,” said Piper.
