An adult man died on Wednesday, October 2, in Michigan from a disease relating to vaping, the Department of Health and Human Services reported Friday, the first person in the state to die from vaping-related causes.
The death occurred as the state’s emergency rules banning the use of flavored vapors used in e-cigarettes took effect. The rules, which deal just with nicotine-based flavored vapors will last for six months unless overturned by the courts or the Legislature approves legislation barring the state from issuing a ban.
No further details on the person who died were released by the state.
Also on Friday, DHHS reported the state had 30 confirmed and suspected cases of illnesses related to vaping. All the cases thus far have occurred in the Lower Peninsula, and most have involved adults, at least one as old as 67.
Nationally, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there have been 1,080 cases of vaping-related illnesses with at least 18 deaths. The deaths reported nationally do not include the Michigan death nor other deaths reported in other states this week.
Lawsuits at both the state and federal levels have been filed against the rules, but earlier this week judges refused to issue temporary restraining orders in the cases. In New York, a judge has at least temporarily blocked a state rule there.
The state also issued an interpretive ruling on the emergency rules holding that possession of flavored vapors or the attempt to return flavored vapors to a seller, manufacturer or wholesaler does not violate the rules which are geared at the sale and delivery of the vapors.
This story was published by Gongwer News Service.