Officials in Kansas announced the death of another state resident in association with vaping.
The governor's office said Monday the man was over age 50 and had underlying health issues. No other information about him was provided. It's the state's second vaping-related death.
In a statement, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly said, “We are coordinating a response to combat this epidemic, so that families can avoid such tragic outcomes.”
The Kansas health department has partnered with the state's education department to teach students about the dangers of e-cigarettes, and the state is reviewing policy options related to the products.
So far, at least nine deaths in the U.S. have been linked to vaping, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating approximately 530 cases of vaping-related lung illnesses.
Some states, like New York and Michigan, have already started cracking down on teen use by banning flavored e-cigarettes. California’s governor announced an executive action against e-cigarettes last week and says he’s working on legislation that would ban flavored e-cigarettes.
On Friday, the Food and Drug Administration issued a proposed rule that would allow e-cigarette products to be sold only after they have shown they can be marketed in a way that best protects public health.
