How vaping turned into a public health emergency: Timeline of key events

The U.S. is facing an alarming epidemic of severe lung injuries linked to vaping, which first made headlines this summer.

As of Nov. 20, the CDC has 2,290 cases of vaping-associated lung injuries in 49 states, along with 47 deaths.

Below is a breakdown of noteworthy events Becker's has covered on the topic.

Note: This is not an exhaustive list.

July 25 — Physicians at Wauwatosa-based Children's Hospital of Wisconsin announce that they treated eight teenagers for serious lung damage in July, all of whom reported vaping.

Aug. 8-13 — Health officials in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois report a rise in severe lung injuries potentially linked to vaping.

Aug. 23 — Illinois health officials report the nation's first vaping-related death.

Aug. 30 — The number of vaping-related lung illnesses reported to the CDC nearly doubles in one week, hitting 354 cases.

Sept. 3 — Oregon health officials confirm the nation's second death linked to vaping.

Sept. 6 — The CDC urges consumers to avoid using e-cigarette products after five deaths are confirmed nationwide.

Sept. 13 — The agency reports 380 confirmed and suspected cases of lung injury linked to vaping in 36 states.

Sept. 16 — The CDC activates its Emergency Operations Center to bolster its investigation into the cause of the illnesses.

Sept. 19 — The CDC reports 530 confirmed and probable vaping-related lung illnesses in 38 states, including seven deaths. Missouri health officials also announce the nation's eighth death.

Sept. 23 — Kansas health officials report the country's ninth vaping-related death.

Sept. 24 — Massachusetts declares vaping a public health emergency.

Sept. 26 — The CDC reports 805 confirmed and probable vaping cases, marking a 52 percent increase from the previous week.

Sept. 27 — Health experts warn that flu season could complicate efforts to diagnose and track vaping-related lung illnesses in the U.S. The CDC also publishes data Sept. 27 showing that 77 percent of vaping illnesses are linked to THC products.

Oct. 1 — The national tally of vaping-related illnesses surpasses the 1,000-case mark.

Oct. 7 — The CDC urges physicians to report potential cases of vaping-related illnesses and shares clinical guidelines for treating and diagnosing the illness.

Oct. 8 — The national tally of vaping-related illnesses rises to 1,299.

Oct. 11 — The CDC pens a new name for vaping-related illness: EVALI, which stands for e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury.

Oct. 22 — The agency reports 1,604 EVALI cases in the U.S., along with 34 deaths.

Nov. 8 — The CDC identifies vitamin E acetate as the chemical potentially causing the string of vaping-related lung illnesses.

Nov. 19 — The CDC updates its guidelines for how healthcare professionals should diagnose and treat patients with EVALI.

Nov. 21 — Canadian researchers identify what is believed to be the first case of bronchiolitis obliterans, or "popcorn lung," linked to vaping.

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