Health officials in California issue warning after new vaping death

A California county is warning residents not to use e-cigarette products after connecting a local death to the devices.

Tulare County’s Health and Human Services Agency issued the warning on Twitter late Monday after confirming an individual died from complications related to vaping. 

Dr. Karen Haught, Tulare County public health officer, told the Los Angeles Times the resident’s death is “suspected to be related to severe pulmonary injury associated with vaping.”{mosads}

“The Tulare County Public Health Branch would like to warn all residents that any use of e-cigarettes poses a possible risk to the health of the lungs and can potentially cause severe lung injury that may even lead to death,” Haught said in a statement to local news outlets. “Long-term effects of vaping on health are unknown. Anyone considering vaping should be aware of the serious potential risk associated with vaping.”

Health officials confirmed that the person who died was older than 40 and had a history of vaping. 

The person had “other complicating health issues” but was being treated for the vaping-related illness by a doctor for the last several weeks, a public information officer at the county health agency told the Times. 

It is the latest death tied to the vaping devices in what health officials across the country have been calling an epidemic. 

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control reported last week there have been six deaths reported from six states, and 380 cases of lung illness reported from 36 states and one U.S. territory

Some lawmakers have been looking to crack down on the epidemic through new laws. 

President Trump announced last week his administration is looking to ban flavored e-cigarettes as the epidemic grows among young Americans.