The American Medical Association is calling for a total ban on e-cigarettes and other vaping products that have not been approved as smoking cessation tools, saying a recent outbreak of lung illnesses warrants the move.

In a statement Tuesday, AMA noted more than 2,000 illnesses and over 40 deaths across the country have been linked to e-cigarettes. The group also pointed to a spike in youth e-cigarette use. As a result, it wants government officials to ban all vaping products not approved by the Food and Drug Administration as cessation tools.

"The recent lung illness outbreak has alarmed physicians and the broader public health community and shined a light on the fact that we have very little evidence about the short- and long-term health consequences of e-cigarettes and vaping products," AMA President Patrice Harris said in a statement.

"It's simple—we must keep nicotine products out of the hands of young people and that's why we are calling for an immediate ban on all e-cigarette and vaping products from the market," she added.

AMA's statement came less than a week after President Donald Trump reversed course on a proposed ban on flavored vaping products, reportedly because of worries that a ban would cost him votes. The Vapor Technology Association conducted polling in October concluding that such a ban would be widely unpopular. http://bit.ly/330DAmF

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