x
Breaking News
More () »

Dallas County teen dies from vaping illness, health officials say

Dallas County Health and Human Services reported the death Tuesday.

A Dallas County teenager has died from a lung illness associated with vaping, according to health officials. 

The teenager has not been named. Health officials said the teenager had a "chronic underlying medical condition." 

Dallas County Health and Human Services reported the death Tuesday. 

The latest case ends a year that saw thousands of cases of vaping-related lung illnesses across the country. 

In Dallas County this year, 53 people have been hospitalized with illnesses associated with e-cigarette use, health officials said. 

DCHHS Director Philip Huang said in a written statement that reporting the teen's death "is so tragic." 

RELATED: American Medical Association calls for total ban on e-cigarette, vaping products

The median age of those patients is 22 and 72% of the patients are male, according to DCHHS. 

Nearly half of the cases have been patients under 21, according to health officials. 

One of the patients is a teenager who started vaping one month ago.

“We are seeing that severe lung damage, and even death, can occur with just short term use of these products," Huang said in a statement.

There have been two deaths reported in Texas and 55 deaths reported across the country, according to Dallas County health officials. 

In Texas, the first reported case of a lung illness associated with vaping was confirmed in August. 

No single vaping device or liquid is associated with the illnesses.

RELATED: Vaping: A guide for parents

More on WFAA:

Before You Leave, Check This Out