Georgia Public Health Officials Confirm Second Death In Vaping Illness Outbreak
The CDC reports that more than 1,000 lung injury cases have been tied to e-cigarettes and vaping products.
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Another person has died from a vaping-related illness, as reported by Georgia health officials.
This is the second death in the state tied to a nationwide outbreak of lung illness in people who report using e-cigarettes and vaping devices.
The Georgia Department of Public Health said the patient had a history of using nicotine products and is still trying to figure out if the individual used other substances.
E-cigarettes can be called vapes and e-hookahs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The devices’ liquid-filled cartridges can have nicotine, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabinoid (CBD) oils in them, among other substances.
The CDC has found through an investigation that THC, the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, administered through e-cigarettes could have played a role in the lung injuries.
The announcement of Georgia’s second vaping-related death comes as the state public health department releases a health advisory on the dangers of using e-cigarettes and vaping devices.
“This public health advisory will notify Georgians of the potential hazards associated with adolescent vaping and encourage youth to take proactive steps to safeguard their health and well-being,” said Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp in a statement.
Georgia officials have identified 14 cases of vaping-related lung illness, and 20 other possible cases are under review. The median age of patients is 31 years old, and 71% are male, according to DPH.
The findings align with patterns observed by the CDC, which has found that almost 80% of patients are under the age of 35.
The agency says it’s received more than 1,000 reports of lung injury cases tied to e-cigarettes and vaping products, as of Oct. 1. Eighteen people have died.
The CDC recommends that people consider stopping use of the products while their investigation into the causes of the outbreak continues.
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