14th vaping-related death in US reported in Nebraska
NEBRASKA — Nebraska health officials on Monday announced the state’s first death due to severe lung disease linked to vaping, bringing the nationwide total of confirmed deaths to 14.
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services said the death occurred in May — before the outbreak was officially recognized this summer.
Before then, “vaping-associated lung injuries were unreported and not tracked by public health agencies,” state epidemiologist Dr. Tom Safranek said in a statement. “Once the problem was recognized, states quickly ramped up surveillance and found current cases, but have also discovered cases that occurred before the August outbreak.”
The decedent, who was over age 65, was lived in Douglas County, Nebraska.
Thirteen other deaths have been identified as part of the multi-state outbreak of lung injury associated with vaping: two in California, two in Kansas, two in Oregon, and one each in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced last week that the agency is aware of 805 confirmed and probable cases of lung injury associated with e-cigarette use in 46 states and the US Virgin Islands.
A specific cause of the nationwide outbreak of lung injuries remains unknown, but health officials are zeroing in on potential clues.
One of those clues, according to the CDC: Most patients have reported a history of using e-cigarette products containing THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive substance in cannabis. However, some have reported using only nicotine products.
“The outbreak currently is pointing to a greater concern around THC-containing products,” CDC Principal Deputy Director Dr. Anne Schuchat told reporters on Friday. “However, we do not know whether the only risky substance for lung injury is the THC-containing products.”
via: https://pix11.com/2019/10/01/14th-vaping-related-death-in-us-reported-in-nebraska/
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Man sucker punches 71-year-old Brooklyn grandmother, breaking her jaw
PROSPECT LEFFERTS GARDENS, Brooklyn — A man is wanted for sucker punching a 71-year-old woman in Brooklyn in September, police said.
Joan Baptiste was walking home around 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19 when an unidentified man suddenly punched her in the face, knocking her to the ground, according to authorities.
Baptiste, who’s lived in Brooklyn for 26 years, told PIX11 she was walking home from her job as a day care worker when she was attacked.
The grandmother of eleven said she doesn’t remember anything from the incident and that she initially thought she fell. A worker from a deli nearby came to help her, she added.
Her attacker fled in an unknown direction, police said.
Baptiste was taken to NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County in serious but stable condition, where she was treated for a broken jaw and lacerations to the mouth, requiring stitches, the NYPD said.
She said she had surgery last Friday and couldn’t eat solid food for two weeks.
Baptiste said she doesn’t know if she’ll ever go back to work.
via: https://pix11.com/2019/09/30/man-sought-for-punching-71-year-old-woman-police/
Photo Credit: pix11.com
Man holds 15-year-old boy captive as sex slave in Bronx apartment
THE BRONX — A Bronx man was arrested after he allegedly held a 15-year-old boy in his apartment to perform sex acts, law enforcement sources told PIX11 Tuesday.
Michael Barreto, 31, was taken into custody after a federal warrant was executed Tuesday morning, according to two sources familiar with the case.
A police spokesperson said the teen’s family reported him missing.
A search warrant was executed on Barreto’s apartment, where the teen was found, the spokesperson said.
Explicit videos and pictures of the teen were also found on Barreto’s phone and computer, according to the sources.
Neighbors told PIX11’s Jay Dow they were in fear of Barreto. One neighbor said he showed her children “dirty stuff.”
Barreto was previously arrested on Sept. 8 for luring a child to commit a sex act, and on March 7, 2016 for acting in a manner injurious to a child less than 17 and lewdness, the police spokesperson said.
Police are looking for other potential victims, according to the sources.
Photo Credit: pix11.com
Kanye West to release “Jesus is King” documentary
Kanye West is bringing his Sunday service to the masses in an upcoming documentary, “Jesus is King,” to be released in October. CBSN Los Angeles reports.