Second Louisiana Vaping Death Reported
The vaping illness epidemic that has swept the nation in the last few months has claimed another victim in Louisiana. According to WBRZ, the latest death linked to e-cigarettes in the Sportman's Paradise occurred earlier this week. That brings the total in the state up to 2.
The latest victim's details have not yet been released, but investigators think they have narrowed down the component responsible for the 2,290 cases of e-cigarette, or vaping associated lung injury (EVALI), 32 of which have been reported in Louisiana. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) officials say that the compound vitamin E acetate found in the vaping fluids of those who have gotten sick with EVALI is the culprit behind the mysterious illness.
It is worth noting that the official report from the CDC on this epidemic is updated every Thursday, and by far the greatest number of these cases (83%) are from victims that reported using these devices to deliver THC, the psychoactive compound found in Marijuana.
Nationwide, 47 deaths have been linked to EVALI as of November 20th.