South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
State reports second death due to complications from vaping
Two people survived with minor injuries when their tractor trailer slipped off a ramp and into some water at the Sunrise exit on Florida’s Turnpike, fire rescue officials said.
A second person in Florida has died due to complication from vaping, according to the most recent state Department of Health data.
The agency has not disclosed additional information about the case.
The health department also reported a slight increase in the number of vaping-associated illnesses, which rose from 99 to 103 cases.
As of Dec. 3, nearly 2,300 cases of vaping-associated illnesses and 48 deaths were reported nationwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The majority of cases have been reported in young men.
Dank Vapes, a class of mostly counterfeit THCcontaining products, has been the most commonlyreported product brand used by patients in the Northeast and South, according to the most recent analysis by the CDC.
No one substance has been identified as the culprit, but the chemical of concern currently is vitamin E acetate, which is used as an additive and thickening agent in THC-containing vaping products.
The CDC recommends against the use THC-containing e-cigarette and vaping products, particularly from informal sources like friends, family, or in-person or online dealers.
“The only way to assure that you are not at risk while the investigation continues is to consider refraining from use of all e-cigarette, or vaping, products,” the CDC advises.
Texas has reported the highest number of vapingassociated illnesses, followed by California and Illinois.
The number of illnesses has been steadily declining since mid-September and CDC officials believe that the outbreak may have peaked around Sept. 15.