25 cases of vaping-related lung illnesses confirmed in Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana now has 25 confirmed cases of lung illnesses tied to vaping.

The Centers for Disease Control reports more than 1,000 injuries nationwide linked to vaping. There have now been at least 19 deaths associated with the use of vaping products in 16 states, including Indiana.

This comes as a new study claims lung injuries in those who suffer vaping-related illnesses resemble the same kind of damages in people exposed to harmful gases or chemicals.

Doctors compare it to disturbing examples.

"The type of injury that I see in any cases could be compared to the type of injury that's seen in an industrial accident where an unfortunate individual is exposed to a drum of chemicals and spills on the factory floor and then inhales those fumes," a doctor said.

Doctors say it is important for emergency rooms to ask nearly every person who comes in if they have vaped because the symptoms of the vaping-related illnesses are so broad.