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10 questions about vaping illness and seasonal flu

By Zihao Zhang | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2020-05-28 13:05

Question Three: What kind of research is going on at Fort Derrick? Are coronaviruses being tested on animals? Why was it suddenly shut down? Why did vaping illness suddenly spike after the lab was shut down? What's the connection between them?

Fort Detrick, a US biological and chemical weapons base in Frederick, Maryland, is an hour's drive from the US army medical command in Washington. Fort Detrick studies bacteria and toxins that could threaten the US military or public health, and investigates disease outbreaks. In July 2019, the Fort Detrick biological base was closed for failing to comply with appropriate control protocols. Soon after, there was an outbreak of vaping illness in nearby areas. Then the media shifted the focus on the e-cigarette debate to respiratory problems and lung diseases, and started reporting about vaping illness. Viruses listed in the lab's database include swine flu, Ebola and SARS-related coronaviruses. What on earth is this military lab doing? Are coronavirus trials underway? Why did "e-cigarette lung disease" suddenly spike after the lab was shut down? What is the connection between the two?

Fort Derrick biochemical weapons base. 

Question Four:If the cause of vaping illness is smoking e-cigarettes, why are there so many clusters of infections? Are e-cigarettes just a cover for laboratory viruses?

From July to Sept 19, 2019, 21 counties in Wisconsin reported at least 48 confirmed cases of lung injury related to e-cigarettes and 13 suspected cases, according to Wisconsin public radio. Since the second half of the year, about 200 people in the United States have developed a new lung disease, with clusters of cases in Wisconsin and elsewhere, the US department of public health said. Doctors couldn't immediately determine the cause, but suspected it was related to the perennial consumption of e-cigarettes. Sounds strange?If the cause of lung disease is smoking e-cigarettes, why are there clusters of infections? Are e-cigarettes just a cover for laboratory viruses?

Question Five:Why are the symptoms and pathologies of e-cigarette lung disease so strikingly similar with COVID-19 ? Coincidence again?

According to a report in the New York Times last August, people with vaping illness often experience severe shortness of breath, chest pain, fever and fatigue, and some need to be treated in intensive care units with a ventilator. Does it sound familiar? Novel coronavirus infections also causes shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue and fever, requiring intensive care and ventilator treatment. Not only that, but even lung CT scans for vaping illness are surprisingly consistent with COVID-19. They have a "frosted glass" appearance on the inside of the lungs. It can cause pneumonia and fever. Why are the symptoms and pathologies of e-cigarette lung disease so strikingly similar with COVID-19? Another coincidence?

Lung CT of vaping illness patient.
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