Press Releases
10/03/2019
Department of Public Health Reports Death in a Patient with Lung Injury Related to Vaping
Total of 25 Cases Under Investigation in Connecticut
The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) today is reporting the first death in the state associated with the national outbreak of lung injuries related to vaping. This outbreak is being investigated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), clinicians, and state and local health departments across the country. The Connecticut patient, who was between the ages of 30 and 39 years, died last week 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 more Connecticut residents who were ill with lung injuries possibly related to using e-cigarettes or vaping were reported to DPH last week, bringing the total to 25 cases that have been reported to DPH. One patient remains in the hospital. The 25 cases involve residents from seven of our counties: Fairfield (11), New Haven (8), New London (2), Hartford (1), Litchfield (1), Tolland (1), and Windham (1). The age breakdown of the patients is as follows: Under 18 years of age (5), 18 to 34 years of age (13); 35 years of age and older (7).
“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 do not yet include the death from Connecticut reported in this news release. Connecticut DPH consulted with CDC experts to confirm that the death of the Connecticut patient was a death among a person with vaping-related lung injury and part of this national outbreak.
Youth, young adults, and women who are pregnant should not use e-cigarette or vaping products.
In Connecticut, symptoms among cases included shortness of breath, fever, cough, vomiting and diarrhea. Other symptoms reported by some patients included headache, weight loss and chest pain.
More information about the investigation can be found on CDC’s webpage:
https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/severe-lung-disease.html