Sask monitoring vaping illnesses

September 27, 2019, 5:49 am

Saskatchewan Health Minister Jim Reiter has issued the following statement about vaping-related illnesses:

“I am concerned with the recent incidents of vaping related illnesses, as well as the high rates of vaping we are seeing among Saskatchewan youth. Although Saskatchewan has not recorded any instances of pulmonary illness associated with vaping similar to the recently reported cases in the United States and Ontario, earlier this week I directed Saskatchewan public health officials to monitor all cases as they present in intensive care units.

“Pursuant to section 31 of The Public Health Act 1994, Saskatchewan Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab sent notification to Hospital Intensive Care Units across the province that all cases of severe respiratory disease that may be due to vaping be reported to local medical health officers by phone immediately.

“Parents, please speak to your children about the risks associated with vaping. Any and all members of the public who have questions about non-severe symptoms they may be having due to or exacerbated by vaping should contact the Healthline at 811 or talk to their health care provider.”