COLUMBUS — Franklin County health officials are urging residents to immediately stop using e-cigarette and vaping products as authorities investigate an outbreak of lung injuries associated with their use.
Franklin County Public Health officials say 17 of the 530 cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control were in Ohio, including three in Franklin County.
“Vaping is not a safer option than cigarettes as some manufacturers portray. No tobacco or nicotine use is safe,” said health commissioner Joe Mazzola.
Officials say there haven’t deaths in Ohio, but all the people reporting lung injuries have required hospital stays. Those reporting injuries in Ohio cases ranged in age from 16 to 59 with most of them teenagers and young adults.
The health board says anyone who has recently used e-cigarette or vaping products and has symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or fever should seek medical attention.