In light of the recent deaths allegedly caused by vaping, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health is mandating clinicians to report suspected cases of vaping associated diseases.

Dr. Monica Bharel, Massachusetts' public health commissioner, said that they are investigating at least ten vaping-associated lung illnesses in the state.

The number of such diseases has alarmingly increased in the past few years, including verified reports of deaths caused by vaping worldwide.

However, the department has admitted that they haven't confirmed any cases in Massachusetts, "It's a public health call to action," quipped Bharel.

The state has ordered its medical community to report suspected illnesses related to vaping. Pediatricians, nurse practitioners and family doctors are now urged to inform the Department of Public Health in case of a suspected patient.

Vaping
San Francisco may be the first city to ban e-cigarettes after supervisors unanimously approved of an ordinance banning the sale and distribution of e-cigarettes. The move was made in an attempt to deter under-aged people from buying and smoking electronic cigarettes as it may be detrimental to their health. Lindsay Fox / Pixabay

On Tuesday, Bharel held a press conference and said that the mandate "establishes the legal framework for health care providers to report suspected cases."

She added that people in Massachusetts "can get a better sense of the overall burden" of the situation. The order will also help state officials track cases to provide data to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As of the moment, Federal health officials at the CDC have identified 450 possible cases of severe lung disease linked with vaping and electronic-cigarette use.

Some reports of a compound called vitamin E acetate could have possibly caused the illnesses. However, Bharel said that they hadn't found proof to link it to the reported cases.

The department has also said that it's not yet clear if nicotine, a marijuana compound, or an unrelated additive could be causing the problem. The only plausible proof in the cases is that the patients vaped within the last 90 days.

Bharel added that "It's concerning... any time we have a disease where we don't understand... understandably causes a lot of anxiety."

On Tuesday, a resident in Kansas died of a lung illness linked to vaping. Five other deaths have also been reported in California, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, and Oregon.

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