By Kevin Tripp, KABC
Health officials say it’s the fourth such death nationwide. Doctor Matthew Martinez from Northridge Hospital has advice for people who use e-cigarettes.
”I would say be cautious, you know. And I would really advise them not to do it, because there’s so much data that’s coming out. This is such a new thing that we really don’t know the risk.”
The announcement in LA comes as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention issues a warning about e-cigarettes. They’re also urging people to avoid them. CDC officials say there are similarities in the illnesses they’ve studied involving vaping. Deaths related to electronic cigarettes have also been reported in Illinois and Indiana and Oregon.
A person in Los Angeles County is the fourth American to die from vaping and it’s prompting health officials to urge everyone to stop using electronic cigarettes.
Doctor Barbara Ferrer with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health says deaths and illnesses from e-cigarettes are coming from all directions.
”We can’t link this to one product and we can’t link this to one device.”
She says they’re seeing cases from all types of electronic cigarettes. That includes products with nicotine or cannabis, and vape pens that are legal or black market. The Los Angeles death is the fourth officially linked to e-cigarettes. Doctor Muntu Davis with County Health says the impacts of vaping are only now becoming more evident.
”It’s wise to stay away from this until we understand what the implications are for the person who’s using it, their health and how it contributes to this lung disease that could potentially lead to death.”