Orange County to host vaping forum

Orange County leaders are hoping to educate the public on the health risks of vaping with upcoming forum.

The free public forum is called, “Vaping in Adolescents — Fact Vs. Fiction,” and it will be held on Monday, Jan. 27 at the Orange County Board of County Commission Chambers; 201 S. Rosalind Ave., Orlando. Registration will begin at 5:45 p.m., and a presentation will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Local doctors from Nemours Children’s Health System will discuss symptoms they’ve seen as well as what parents and teens should know about vaping-related illnesses. They also will be available for questions from the public.

Throughout the country, more than 1000 cases of vaping-related illnesses have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. So far, there have been 18 deaths in 15 states. Locally, the Florida Department of Health has reported that there’s been one death in the state as well as 39 confirmed cases of lung injury associated with vaping as of Oct. 1, 2019.