Cases of severe respiratory illness associated with vaping are continuing to increase in Iowa and across the country. The Iowa Department of Public Health says Iowa has had 23 cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 805 cases and 12 deaths across the U.S. In Iowa, the ages of patients ranges from 17 to 60.

Sarah Smith with Prelude Behavioral Services says the number of teenagers using e-cigarettes and vaping products is up, while their use of traditional tobacco cigarettes is down, “Teenagers typically are not smoking cigarettes now a days, they’ve gotten those warnings, and then they’ve gotten messages from vaping companies themselves that say vaping is harmless. We now see that, you know, it’s not and there’s definitely dangers that aren’t taking 20 to 30 years to develop.”

The investigation into the recent illnesses continues, as some cases have contained THC and others have not.

The IDPH advises Iowans to not use vaping and e-cigarette products because the cause of the outbreak is not yet clear and the long-term health impacts are unknown. If you have a history of vaping and experience breathing problems then it is advised that you seek medical care.