BOSTON — State health officials say a third person has died from a vaping-related lung illness.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health identified the person as a man in his 50s from Worcester County who "reported vaping both nicotine and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)," according to a news release. It did not say when he died.
The DPH releases new vaping statistics every Wednesday, and started mandating reporting by healthcare providers of any suspected cases vaping-related illness. To date, 200 hundred cases have been reported to DPH.
Last month, the state reported two other vaping-related deaths - a woman in her 40s from Middlesex County, and a Hampshire County woman in her 60s - who reported vaping nicotine.
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In response to the growing number of cases, Gov. Charlie Baker declared a public health emergency in September and temporarily banned the sale of vaping products and devices.
Meanwhile, lawmakers have filed legislation to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products including mint and menthol in the hopes of cracking down on the soaring number of young people vaping.