First vaping death reported in Mississippi

The Mississippi State Department of Health has confirmed the state’s first vaping-related death. The death was in an individual under the age of 30. To date, Mississippi has four identified cases of serious lung injury related to vaping, all in individuals between 18 and 34 years of age. More than 800 cases have been identified nationally, with 12 deaths.

The Mississippi State Department of Health is investigating an outbreak of severe lung illness related to e-cigarette use. This investigation is part of a national outbreak of vaping-related pulmonary illness whose cause has yet to be determined.

Nation-wide, the number of vaping-related lung injury cases jumped to 805 and the number of deaths to 12, but the specific causes of the illnesses are undetermined, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Thursday.

The Food and Drug Administration said last week that it launched a criminal probe into the spike in vaping-related illnesses.The inquiry will focus on the products, where they were purchased and how they were used.

About Vaping Outbreak

• Nationally, all reported cases have a history of e-cigarette product use or vaping.
• Most of the cases have reported vaping cannabis products, such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Many patients have reported using THC and nicotine. Some have reported the use of e-cigarette products containing only nicotine.
• The specific cause of these lung injuries remains unknown. No single e-cigarette product, device or ingredient has been consistently identified in all cases.

Symptoms

Symptoms of severe pulmonary disease include:

• cough
• shortness of breath
• chest pain
• nausea or vomiting
• diarrhea
• fever
• fatigue

Symptoms develop anywhere from over a few days of use to weeks of using e-cigarettes. If you have recently used an e-cigarette or vaping product and you have symptoms like these, see your healthcare provider.

For more information on vaping: https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/14,0,418.html?phr=VapingIllness