(CNN) Alabama on Wednesday announced the state's first death due to lung disease associated with vaping -- bringing the nationwide total of confirmed deaths to 17.

Virginia and New Jersey health officials on Tuesday announced they had each confirmed a vaping-related death.

The Alabama Department of Public Health said the death was an adult man in the eastern part of the state.

"While this current outbreak is being investigated, the safest option is to refrain from using any e-cigarette or vape product," State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris said in a statement Wednesday.

The Virginia death, an adult from the state's southwest region, was initially reported by Cone Health in Greensboro, North Carolina, on September 26. The New Jersey death, an adult from the northern part of the state, was reported to its health department in August.

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