First Confirmed Case of Underage E-cigarette Related Lung Disease in Costa Rica

News by 2FIRSTS.ai
Nov.17.2023
First Confirmed Case of Underage E-cigarette Related Lung Disease in Costa Rica
Costa Rica reports its first confirmed case of a minor with e-cigarette related lung disease, raising concerns over its safety.

According to a report on November 15 from CNN Spain, the Social Security Fund of Costa Rica (Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social) has recently issued a statement confirming the country's first case of an e-cigarette related lung disease in a minor.

 

According to a report by the organization, a 16-year-old minor has been using e-cigarettes without supervision on a regular basis. As a result, the individual had to spend 29 days in the intensive care unit for treatment, during which mechanical ventilation and intubation were necessary. The organization highlights this case to remind the public once again that e-cigarettes are not harmless and are not a smoking cessation method, as they can potentially be fatal.

 

According to the institution's statistics, the number of cases related to e-cigarette-associated illnesses in the Costa Rican public healthcare system has risen significantly, from 13 cases in the entire year of 2021 to 857 cases in the first half of 2023. The majority of these cases are reported from clinics in the central region of the country.

 

In addition, the results of the 2021 National Survey on the Consumption of Psychotropic Substances among the population of secondary education, published by the Institute on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (IAFA) in Costa Rica, reveal a significant increase in the proportion of students who have experimented with nicotine or e-cigarette products, reaching 13.1%. This percentage is nearly triple the findings from the previous survey conducted in 2018 (4.6%).

 

We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn


Notice

1.  This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2.  The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3.  This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4.  Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright

 

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

 

AI Assistance Disclaimer

 

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company Launches Flavored Vuse Pro Pods in U.S. Without FDA Marketing Authorization
R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company Launches Flavored Vuse Pro Pods in U.S. Without FDA Marketing Authorization
R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company has begun selling four flavored Vuse Pro pods — Peach, Berry, Watermelon and Fresh Mint — in Ohio and selected other U.S. markets. According to the Vuse U.S. FAQ, Vuse Pro contains approximately 5.0% nicotine by weight, and Vuse Pro pre-filled pods are intended for use with Vuse Alto devices. Reynolds told 2Firsts that product labeling lists an e-liquid capacity of 2.0 mL per pod. The Vuse Alto Power Unit received FDA marketing authorization in 2024, while the new Vuse Pro pods themselves have not received marketing granted orders. The rollout follows the FDA’s May 2026 revision of enforcement priorities for certain unauthorized vaping products with qualifying pending applications.
BAT
Sep.10
2Firsts Hosts China Market Forum at InterTabac as Global Industry Attention to China’s Tobacco Sector Deepens
2Firsts Hosts China Market Forum at InterTabac as Global Industry Attention to China’s Tobacco Sector Deepens
On September 16, 2Firsts hosted a China-focused industry forum during InterTabac in Dortmund, bringing together more than 30 participants from North America, Europe, India, South Korea and other markets. The session covered traditional tobacco, next-generation products, exports, technology, regulation and supply chains, while examining how China’s tobacco sector operates, where its transformation may be heading, and why its growing role matters increasingly to companies across the global tobacco and nicotine industry.
Sep.21
IQOS Enters Kantar BrandZ Global Top 100 for First Time, Valued at $36.6 Billion and Ranked No. 74
IQOS Enters Kantar BrandZ Global Top 100 for First Time, Valued at $36.6 Billion and Ranked No. 74
Philip Morris International’s IQOS has entered the Kantar BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands for the first time, ranking No. 74 with a brand value of $36.634 billion and becoming one of only three newcomers to the 2026 ranking. Kantar said the combined value of the Global Top 100 reached $13.1 trillion, up 22% year on year, while the threshold for entry rose to a record high. PMI says IQOS has more than 35 million users worldwide and surpassed $10 billion in annual net revenues within a decade of launch.
Sep.03
Special Report|AIR H1 Revenue Rises 3.7% as Shisha Volumes Fall 9%, Testing Its Shift Beyond Traditional Hookah
Special Report|AIR H1 Revenue Rises 3.7% as Shisha Volumes Fall 9%, Testing Its Shift Beyond Traditional Hookah
AIR’s first half-year results as a listed company offer a new test of how far a traditional hookah business can transform. H1 2026 revenue rose 3.7%, even as Flavored Shisha Molasses shipments fell 9%, with pricing and mix supporting growth. Traditional shisha still generates almost all revenue, while OOKA, Crown Switch, Greentank and U.S. regulatory spending point to accelerating diversification. The next test is whether those investments can become a second business of meaningful scale and profitability.
Capital Markets
Aug.21
Juul Sublicense Reshapes Vuse Alto Patent Bill as Court Ends R.J. Reynolds’ 5.25% Royalty Obligation to Altria
Juul Sublicense Reshapes Vuse Alto Patent Bill as Court Ends R.J. Reynolds’ 5.25% Royalty Obligation to Altria
According to Law360 on August 31, 2026, a federal judge in North Carolina ruled that a patent sublicense between R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co. and Juul Labs Inc. relieves Reynolds of its obligation to continue paying royalties to Altria Client Services LLC over Vuse Alto. A jury had previously found that Vuse Alto infringed three Altria patents and awarded approximately $95.2 million in past damages, after which Reynolds was ordered to pay an ongoing royalty equal to 5.25% of positive net sales. The new ruling finds that a valid sublicense can eliminate future infringement, potentially ending what Altria described as hundreds of millions of dollars in future royalties.
Sep.01
Exclusive Analysis | Smoore H1 Revenue Rises 19.9% Amid Growth Concentration, Profit Pressure and Slowing Momentum
Exclusive Analysis | Smoore H1 Revenue Rises 19.9% Amid Growth Concentration, Profit Pressure and Slowing Momentum
Smoore’s first-half 2026 revenue rose 19.9%, but the results revealed growing structural risks beneath the headline growth. Heat-not-burn contributed about 61% of incremental revenue and remains driven largely by one core customer, while traditional vaping markets diverged, own-brand growth slowed and China enterprise revenue declined further. Gross profit and adjusted profit lagged revenue growth, while second-quarter revenue growth slowed to about 1.9%, putting greater focus on the quality, concentration and sustainability of Smoore’s expansion.
Capital Markets
Aug.20