Two more Minnesotans have died from vaping-related lung illnesses, raising the state's toll to three and prompting health officials to issue new warnings about vaping illegal cannabis substances.
The state's first death was reported last month by the Minnesota Department of Health.
So far, the state has seen 73 confirmed or probable cases of severe lung injury associated with vaping, with an additional 32 cases under review.
Of those interviewed, most have reported using illegal products containing THC, the psychoactive component in marijuana. "It is particularly important for people to avoid vaping anything containing illegal cannabis products," Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said Wednesday.
At the same time, health officials can't rule out nicotine as a factor in the lung damage that has sent most of those affected to the hospital. About half the patients required intensive care.
The most recent deaths involved patients over age 50 who died in September after "complicated hospitalizations," the Health Department said. One patient had vaped a number of products, including illegal THC. The second patient had severe underlying conditions and vaped nicotine as well as other unknown products.
Of the three deceased patients, one lived in the metro area while the other two lived outside the metro. Duluth-based Essentia Health confirmed that one of its patients was among those that died as a result of vaping but said it could not release more details due to privacy regulations.
"We hope we do not have any more deaths linked to this investigation," said state epidemiologist Dr. Ruth Lynfield. "However, based on what we know about other patients, the seriousness of the injuries and the fact that we continue to see new cases, it is possible we will have more deaths."