Updated 10/18/19

The Metro Public Health Department and the Tennessee Department of Health confirmed the first reported death from a vaping associated disease on Thursday.

Both departments confirmed the report in press release, that an adult male suffered a severe pulmonary illness associated with the use of electronic cigarettes.

Governor Press Secretary Laine Arnold said that the Governor's Office is "continuing to monitor the situation."

"This news is certainly tragic and we are facing many unknowns about the specific cause," Arnold said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and U.S. Drug Administration are investigating the link between vaping and severe pulmonary disease.

As of Thursday, there have been 53 cases reported in Tennessee and most of the patients are adolescents and young adults.

Patients associated with this outbreak have had symptoms including cough, shortness of breath and/or chest pain, growing worse over a period of days or weeks before admission to the hospital.

Tennessee healthcare organizations have called on Gov. Bill Lee and state lawmakers to ban flavored vaping products.