A patient hospitalized with a severe lung injury linked to vaping has died in Illinois, health officials confirmed Aug. 23.
The case appears to be the first death reported amid a nationwide uptick in severe respiratory cases among individuals who reported recent e-cigarette use.
As of Aug. 22, the CDC reported 193 potential cases of severe lung illness in 22 states. Illinois health officials said the state's cases have doubled over the past week.
Health officials are still working to identify a common source for the illnesses.
"We are saddened to hear of the first death related to the outbreak of severe lung disease in those who use e-cigarette or 'vaping' devices," CDC Director Robert Redfield, MD, said in a statement. "We are working with state and local health departments and FDA to learn the cause or causes of this ongoing outbreak."