(Health Canada)
Nova Scotia’s Chief Medical Officer of Health is making informal inquiries to respiratory specialists and intensive care units at Nova Scotia hospitals in regards to any serious health cases related to vaping.
Dr. Robert Strang says the U-S is investigating nearly 200 cases of severe respiratory illnesses potentially linked to vaping and he and his Canadian colleagues are seeking more information.
We’re certainly not in Nova Scotia or even in Canada aware of any similar acute illness or lung illness at this point. Having said that, you always have to ask, well, how, if it did occur, would we know about it. So we do have to do some more steps to be looking at that. We’re waiting for further direction from the Public Health Agency of Canada . This week I’ve been sharing communication with physician specialty groups who would be likely to see these type of patients. So I’ve alerted them and asked them that if they become aware of any cases that fit that criteria in Nova Scotia to let me know.”
He says Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada are monitoring the recent U-S clusters of acute pulmonary illnesses reportedly linked to the use of vaping products, which have led to one death.
Dr. Strang says it’s important for people to understand that there’s a myth out there that vaping is safe.
“If people completely give up smoking cigarettes and instead are vaping to get a dose of nicotine, they are decreasing the risk to their health but if anybody who doesn’t smoke or vape, starts vaping they are actually significantly increasing the risk to their health.”
He says there’s lots of growing concern that youth vaping is actually leading to people becoming addicted to nicotine.
“We’re starting see some indication of increased youth smoking rates and we all know the many, many health risks of smoking. We need to treat these devices very carefully and with caution. The overall advice is if you don’t smoke or vape now, don’t use either of them.”
