Possible Vaping Injury Cases in Minnesota Nearing 100
St. Paul, MN (KROC-AM News) - State health officials have now documented almost 100 possible cases of vaping-related lung illness in Minnesota.
A report released Friday shows there are currently 61 confirmed and probable cases and another 36 cases are under review. Olmsted County has not seen any cases of the severe respiratory injuries, but Goodhue and Mower Counties have each reported one case. About two-thirds of the confirmed and probable cases throughout Minnesota have been in the Twin Cities area.
To date, there has been one death associated with vaping in Minnesota, while the nationwide total is up to 19 and federal officials put the total number of patients at over 1,000. Many of those sickened have required admittance to hospital intensive care units and the support of ventilators.
Mayo Clinic researchers this week issued a report that suggests the lung injuries associated with vaping appear to involve damage caused by exposure to a harmful chemical. It was previously reported that most of the cases have people who have reported vaping illicit THC products.