Third Illinois resident dies from vaping: state officials

The health department announced the death Thursday, saying the resident recently vaped and had been hospitalized for a severe lung injury.

SHARE Third Illinois resident dies from vaping: state officials
The Chicago City Council recently passed an ordinance tightening up regulation of electronic cigarettes and vaping.

The Illinois Department of Public Health announced Oct. 31, 2019, that a third resident has died from vaping.

Sun-Times files

A third Illinois resident has died from vaping amid an “outbreak” of vaping-related illnesses, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

The health department announced the death Thursday, saying the Illinois resident recently vaped and had been hospitalized for a severe lung injury.

Health department spokeswoman Melaney Arnold declined to say the age of the victim, or the time or location of the death, citing patient privacy concerns.

She said a total of 166 Illinois residents have experienced lung injuries from vaping, and that their ages ranged from 13 to 75 years old, with a median age of 22. The health department is currently investigating another possible 42 cases in the state.

In a statement, health department director Ngozi Ezike urged residents against using vaping or e-cigarette products.

“New cases continue to be reported in Illinois and across the country,” Ezike said. “IDPH is urging Illinoisans not to vape or use e-cigarettes products, especially illicit THC based products, while we continue to investigate this outbreak.”

The cause of the vaping-related illnesses is still unclear. There have been over a thousand cases reported across the country.

The Latest
The man was found unresponsive in an alley in the 10700 block of South Lowe Avenue, police said.
The man suffered head trauma and was pronounced dead at University of Chicago Medical Center, police said.
Another federal judge in Chicago who also has dismissed gun cases based on the same Supreme Court ruling says the high court’s decision in what’s known as the Bruen case will “inevitably lead to more gun violence, more dead citizens and more devastated communities.”
Women make up just 10% of those in careers such as green infrastructure and clean and renewable energy, a leader from Openlands writes. Apprenticeships and other training opportunities are some of the ways to get more women into this growing job sector.
Chatterbox doesn’t seem aware that it’s courteous to ask questions, seek others’ opinions.