CONNECTICUT — State health officials in Connecticut have reported the state's first vaping-related death, while 25 other cases are under investigation.
The Connecticut Department of Public Health made the announcement on Thursday evening, saying the death occurred last week.
According to the Connecticut DPH, the patient was between 30 and 39 years of age and died while hospitalized for multiple medical conditions.
"Sadly, one of our residents with vaping-related lung injury has died," said DPH Commissioner Renée D. Coleman-Mitchell. "Our prayers go out to the family. We are working with the CDC along with health departments across the country to find out what the specific causes of these injuries are to educate the public by providing the information needed to mitigate the risk of illness and death."
In addition to the patient who died, six other Connecticut residents who were diagnosed with lung injuries possibly related to using e-cigarettes or vaping were reported to DPH last week, bringing the total number of cases in the state to 25.
The 25 cases involve residents from seven counties: 11 in Fairfield, eight in New Haven, two in New London, one in Hartford, one in Litchfield, one in Tolland and one in Windham.
Five of the patients were under 18 years old, 13 were between 18 and 34 and the remaining seven were 35 and older.
"I am asking Connecticut residents to not use e-cigarette or vaping products," said DPH Commissioner Renée D. Coleman-Mitchell. "If you choose to continue vaping, you should not buy vaping products off the street or from another person, including a friend, or modify or add any other unregulated substances to these products."
According to CDC, as of today 1080 cases of vaping-related lung injury had been reported from 48 states and 1 U.S. territory. The CDC also reports 18 deaths had been confirmed in 15 states. These numbers, however, still don't reflect the recent death in Connecticut.
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