Vaping Illnesses, Death Prompt Sonoma County Health Alert

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — A health alert has been issued regarding lung injuries from vaping, health officials in Sonoma County announced Thursday. The alert concerns injuries related to vaping nicotine products, cannabis or cannabis oils following a statewide alert issued by the California Department of Public Health.

Since June in California 36 cases of lung illnesses allegedly tied to vaping were so serious the patients had to be hospitalized, according to the county.

Over the past three months, 193 potential cases of severe lung illnesses related to vaping were reported by 22 states including California.

That has prompted an investigation by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

One death has been confirmed, Sonoma County health officials said.

The death was not in Sonoma County and currently there are no cases of lung illness allegedly tied to vaping in the county.

• ALSO SEE: Every CA Teen Knows Vaping Is An Epidemic: Here's What The Legislature Can Do About It

County health officials said most of the victims of the illnesses nationwide said they had been vaping before they got sick, though health officials don't know whether vaping caused the illnesses.

Doctors in the county are asked to report suspected cases to the Sonoma County Department of Health Services and collect the vaping products so the products can be tested.

— Bay City News Service