275 new cases of vape-related illness, three more deaths since last week

The Centers for Disease Control announced Thursday that 275 new cases of vaping-related illness and three other deaths have been reported in the country since last week. The mysterious disease had sickened 530 people in 38 states and killed nine last Thursday, but the number rose to 805 in 46 states and 12 died Thursday. The peak was not a surprise to CDC officials. Anne Schuchat, Senior Deputy Director of the CDC, told the House of Representatives at a public hearing that "hundreds of additional cases" could appear at the next weekly update of the data.

According to the CDC, all reported cases have a history of use or vaping of electronic cigarette products, but the similarities stop there. "The investigation did not identify any specific electronic cigarette or vaping product (devices, liquids, refill capsules and / or cartridges) or any substance related to all cases," the CDC says. The inconsistency of the products, additives or substances used in the devices – varying between THC, nicotine and patients having "reported having used THC and nicotine" – made it difficult to search for a link .

The CDC is working with states to create a case definition "to classify confirmed and probable cases consistently" to better understand the disease. In the meantime, the agency recommends not to use e-cigarette or vaping products, especially if they are bought off the street, as the substances used could undergo modifications not foreseen by the manufacturer.