First vaping-related death reported in New Jersey: Officials
TRENTON, New Jersey (WPVI) -- New Jersey health officials have announced the first death associated with vaping.
Officials say they were notified in August about an adult female from North Jersey who died as a result of vaping.
"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.
The total number of confirmed and probable cases of serious lung disease in the state has risen to 14-including two probable cases. Thirty-two reports of severe lung illness are still under investigation. The age range of all cases and reports under investigation is between 15 and 51 years of ages.
"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," the New Jersey Health Department says.
The death in New Jersey comes in the wake of over a dozen deaths linked to vaping across the country.
The e-cigarette industry, and Juul in particular, face mounting scrutiny from federal and local governments over youth vaping and as the 14th U.S. death linked to vaping was reported in Nebraska.
Nationally, there are now more than 800 confirmed and probable cases of severe lung illnesses.
Health officials are urging people to stop vaping as the CDC works to investigate the link to severe lung illnesses.
--The Associated Press contributed to this report.
