ALBANY, NY (WSKG) - New York has now reported the first death related to an epidemic of vaping related illnesses, with the state health department reporting the victim is a 17 year old male from the Bronx.
According to state officials, the teen was previously hospitalized in early September with a vaping-associated respiratory illness. He was re-admitted to the hospital in late September and passed away on October 4.
Governor Andrew Cuomo warned young people, who under law are not allowed to buy vaping products, that they need to stay away from vaping.
“You are playing with your life when you play with this stuff. And it's not just best case scenario for vaping. You get addicted to nicotine. And that is a life long struggle,” Cuomo said. “I can tell you as a person who was young and stupid and smoked, it is an addiction you will fight for your entire life.”
The number of New Yorkers sickened by vaping related illness is now at 110.
Meanwhile, the New York State Vapor associations, which represents 700 vape shops in the state, has joined in a lawsuit against Cuomo’s ban on flavored nicotine vaping products, saying it’s an overreach. They say evidence so far shows the vaping illness is associated with black market marijuana products.