The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are warning against using counterfeit and bootleg e-cigarette cartridges and liquid, the agencies said on Friday.
Although the CDC is still investigating the 215 reported cases of severe lung illnesses, it issued guidance Friday in the hope of protecting more Americans from the mysterious respiratory symptoms linked to at least one death.
The preliminary report notes that many - but not all - of the illnesses involved counterfeit e-liquid products, some of which contained THC, the psychoactive component of marijuana.
It isn't clear yet what ingredient in e-cigarette vapor might be causing the vaping illnesses, but the CDC warns that bootleg ones are 'not intended' to be used with e-cig devices.
'Anyone who uses e-cigarette products should not buy these products off the street (eg, e-cigarette products with THC or other cannabinoids) and should not modify e-cigarette products or add any substances to these products that are not intended by the manufacturer,' said the CDC and FDA in a joint statement.
They also warned that no pregnant women, youth, young adults or anyone who doesn't already use other tobacco products should not use e-cigarettes.
As of August 27, the health agencies say there are 215 people in 25 who vape and have shown up to hospitals symptoms that mimic severe pneumonia and even lung failure.
Some have been placed on life support or into medically-induced comas, and one death is suspected to have been caused by the vaping-linked illness.
But at this stage, the CDC can't say what - if anything - in e-cigarettes vapors is doing life-threatening damage to Americans.
'Even though cases appear similar, it is not clear if these cases have a common cause or if they are different diseases with similar presentations, which is why our ongoing investigation is critical,' the CDC and FDA said in their statement.
The FDA has asked Juul and several other to turnover demonstrations that they tested the healthy and safety of their devices and pods before selling them
Whether or not proper testing was done, it's safe to say that using bootleg e-liquids could have unforeseen negative health effects, hence health officials' broad warning against these products.
Juul, too, is trying to combat counterfeiters.
The FDA demanded the company pull sweet flavored pods from store shelves, claiming that the flavors entice children.
Juul has filed a number of International Trade Commission actions and complaints against bootleggers that continue selling sweet look-alike pods.
Some of these bootleg pods contain THC or other cannabinoids, which have been detected in some lung illnesses.
The CDC is testing these ingredients and instructing doctors to ask their patients where they got their liquids and devices.
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