NEW JERSEY – The first death in New Jersey connected to the ongoing vaping crisis has been reported, according to officials from the NJ Department of Health.
The NJDOH reports that the victim was an adult female from northern New Jersey. The death was reported in August and was mentioned as a report under investigation by Department of Health Acting Commissioner Judith Persichilli at the time Governor Phil Murphy announced the creation of the Electronic Smoking Device Task Force on September 12, 2019.
“The New Jersey Department of Health is saddened to announce a death associated with this outbreak. This death underscores the potential dangers associated with vaping,” said Persichilli, who chairs the Governor’s Electronic Smoking Device Task Force.
As of October 1, the total number of confirmed probable cases of serious lung disease in NJ has risen to 14. This figure includes two probable cases, one of which is the death being reported today.
In addition, 32 reports of severe lung illness are currently under investigation, all involving individuals between 15 and 51 years of ages. The majority of the cases involve males.
To date, there have been no reports of serious lung illness associated with products sold in dispensaries permitted by the New Jersey Medical Marijuana Program.
There are now more than 800 confirmed and probable cases of severe lung illnesses in 46 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. There have been approximately 13 deaths in 11 states.
While the state health departments, the CDC and the FDA are still investigating the possible causes of the lung injuries, officials continue to advise against the use of e-cigarettes or vaping products.
For more information, visit VapeFactsNJ.com or incorruptible.us.
