The Food and Drug Administration has launched a criminal probe into the recent spike in vaping-related illnesses, which has jumped to 530, health authorities said Thursday.
The confirmed cases, up from 380 last week, were reported by 38 states and one territory as of Sept. 17, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
CDC reported Thursday morning that seven deaths resulting from vaping-related illness have been confirmed in six states, and that more were likely to occur. By Thursday evening, the Missouri Department of Health confirmed that a man in his mid-40s died this week due to a vaping-related illness—the first in Missouri and the eighth nationwide.
“We are in desperate need of facts," said Mitch Zeller, director of the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products.
Zeller said the criminal probe will not look into personal use of vaping-related products. Instead, the investigation will focus on the products, where they were purchased and how they are being used.
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