NEW: 4th Person Dies of Vaping-Related Lung Injuries in MA

NEW: 4th Person Dies of Vaping-Related Lung Injuries in MA

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) announced Wednesday that a fourth person has died of a vaping-associated lung injury.

According to DPH, the victim was a man in his 70s from Middlesex County who vaped tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

“Today’s news is a tragic reminder that we must remain vigilant about the dangers of vaping. There are resources available to help people quit and we encourage anyone to use these resources,” said Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel, MD, MPH.

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Back in November, the DPH reported the death of a man in his 50s from Worcester County who reported vaping both nicotine and THC.

In October, the state reported the vaping-associated lung injury deaths of a woman in her 40s from Middlesex County and a woman in her 60s from Hampshire County, both of whom vaped nicotine.

Vaping in MA

Since the state began mandating the report in September, DPH has received 341 reports from clinicians of suspected vaping-associated lung injuries.

Of those, 109 cases have been identified, with 36 confirmed cases and 73 probable cases reported to the CDC.

Of the 109 Massachusetts confirmed or probable cases that have been reported to the CDC, 55 are male and 54 are female.

Fifty-two percent are under the age of 30.

Thirty-five percent vaped only nicotine, 40 percent vaped only THC, and 27 percent reported vaping nicotine and THC.

 

 

PHOTO: Vaping 360/Flickr Commons