Vaping-related illnesses in US increase

The number of people in the US sickened with a severe lung illness linked to vaping has more than doubled to 450 possible cases in 33 states, including three deaths and a possible fourth, according to health officials.

On Friday, Indiana health officials confirmed the state's first death from a vaping-related respiratory illness, bringing the national toll to three, after two such deaths in Illinois and in Oregon. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also said that it's investigating a fourth death but declined to say where.

Neither federal nor state health investigators have been able to pinpoint a brand, ingredient or substance causing the illnesses, but some suspect oils in vapes may play a role.

"While this investigation is ongoing, people should consider not using e-cigarette products. People who do use e-cigarette products should monitor themselves for symptoms," the CDC said in a news release.

The person who died in Indiana was an adult, but officials gave no other details, citing privacy laws. There's also no indication of what the person may have been vaping.

Public health officials in Oregon said the person who died there had used an electronic cigarette containing marijuana oil from a legal dispensary, the first death linked to a vaping product bought at a pot shop.

Officials have not determined what sickened the middle-aged adult, whether the product was contaminated or whether they may have added something to the liquid in the device after buying it, said Dr Ann Thomas with the Oregon Health Authority.

Reuters contributed to this report.