Lung Illness Casesbr Possibly Related to Vapingbr Have Increased, Says CDC.br According to the Centers for br Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), br the number of cases has reached br 450 people across 33 states.br That number has doubledbr since last month, when only 215br vaping-related cases were found.br According to the CDC, a totalbr of five people have died.br Many of those struck with br illness used either cannabis-derived br or nicotine-containing products.br The CDC says that the br "lung illnesses are likely br associated with a chemical exposure.".br Although more investigation is needed to determine the vaping agent or agents responsible, there is clearly an epidemic that begs for an urgent response, David Christiani, Harvard Schoolbr of Public Health, via NPR.