New York City Confirms 2nd Death Linked to Vaping

On February 27, according to foreign media reports, a man in Manhattan, New York, was confirmed as the second death in the city linked to vaping-related illnesses on the 26th local time.

Reports state that 34-year-old Jonathan Sosa died at Bellevue Hospital on November 9, 2019. He had been hospitalized for breathing difficulties about two weeks before his death.

Recent autopsy results indicate that despite suffering from obesity, obstructive sleep apnea, and diabetes, his cause of death was related to vaping.

Chief Medical Examiner Barbara Sampson stated that due to Sosa's medical conditions and complex medical history, determining the final cause of death in relation to vaping was somewhat challenging. However, after a thorough investigation and review of medical records, it was ultimately confirmed that his death was related to vaping.

Reports indicate that Sosa weighed approximately 299 pounds and stood about 180 cm tall. He had a heavy smoking habit. His mother and sister said he started using e-cigarettes because he believed they would help him quit smoking. "He went to the hospital because he couldn't breathe and didn't know why," they said.

At the end of October 2019, he was admitted to the emergency room of a metropolitan hospital, and his condition worsened. On November 8 of the same year, he was transferred to Bellevue Hospital. Less than 24 hours later, Sosa passed away.

On October 4, 2019, a 17-year-old boy named Bern became the first patient in New York State to die from vaping-related illnesses; he died at Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx.

Reports indicate that as of February 18, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had confirmed 68 deaths nationwide related to vaping, with over 2,800 people hospitalized.