Illinois health officials said that a patient who contracted a serious lung disease after vaping has died, which could mark the first death in the United States linked to the smoking alternative, CBS Chicago reported.
“The severity of illness people are experiencing is alarming and we must get the word out that using e-cigarettes and vaping can be dangerous,” Illinois Public Health Department Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said in the release. “We requested a team from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help us investigate these cases and they arrived in Illinois.”The agency said at least 22 people, ranging in age from 17 to 38, have developed some type of respiratory illness after vaping or using e-cigarettes. Twelve other cases are under investigation.