ST. LOUIS (AP) - Health officials in eastern Missouri have added a seventh person to the list of Missourians diagnosed with lung illnesses related to vaping.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the Jefferson County Health Department says a male between the ages of 15 and 24 was diagnosed Sept. 12 with “vaping associated pulmonary injury.” Health officials in the county, which is located south of St. Louis, say there have been 22 reports of vaping-related illness in Missouri, with seven cases confirmed as of Sept. 20.

The cases come amid an outbreak of similar illnesses across the nation.

Jefferson County Health Department Director Kelley Vollmar said in a news release that vaping isn’t a safe alternative to smoking. She says “significant risks associated with the long-term impacts of vaping” are beginning to be seen.

___

Information from: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, http://www.stltoday.com

Sign up for Daily Newsletters Manage Newsletters

Copyright © 2020 The Washington Times, LLC.