Vaping-related death confirmed in Mississippi

Mississippi confirmed its first vaping-related death last week.

On Thursday, Sept. 26, the Mississippi State Department of Health said the individual who died was under the age of 30, but did not specify whether this was the same case under investigation earlier. The state has had four identified cases of serious lung injury related to vaping, all in individuals between 18 and 34 years of age.

“Any death related to vaping is one too many, and this is entirely preventable,” said MSDH State Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers in a statement. “We grieve with the family over this loss, and our hopes are that this helps emphasize how serious the dangers of vaping can be.”

Also on Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its statistics on vaping-related illnesses and deaths.

As of Sept. 24, 2019, the CDC reports 805 confirmed and probable patient cases of lung injury associated with e-cigarette product use, or vaping, in 46 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Nationwide, 12 deaths have occurred in 10 states: two each in California and Kansas, and one each in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi and Oregon.

No single product or substance has been linked to all lung injury cases. About 77 percent reported using THC-containing products, with 36 percent reporting exclusive use of THC-containing products.

About 57 percent reported using nicotine-containing products, with 16 percent reporting exclusive use of nicotine-containing products.