Only a matter of time before Canada sees severe vaping-related issues: B.C. health authority

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – British Columbia’s top doctor says it’s only a matter of time before Canada starts to see people experiencing the severe effects of vaping.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says while there have not been any reports of serious pulmonary issues related to vaping reported in Canada, she’s keeping an eye on reports out of the United States.

“There’s a much larger population of people in the U.S., so this is still a relatively rare thing,” she says. “It is very likely that we will start to see consequences now that we’re looking for it.”

RELATED: Canadian officials monitor reports of vaping-linked illnesses in the U.S.

Henry adds she’s concerned about all vaping, not just cannabis or tobacco.

“We have some ideas now of what might be causing some of this, and it causes a very unusual type of pneumonia, severe pneumonia.”

She says the illnesses are likely a toxic effect from some of the chemicals in vaping devices.

In the U.S., there have been reports of six people dying from respiratory problem believed to be linked to vaping.

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that his administration will propose banning thousands of flavours used in e-cigarettes amid the outbreak of breathing problems.

With files from the Associated Press