The Chief Medical Officer of Health has confirmed the province’s first probable case of vaping-related illness.

In a release issued today, the Department of Health says the person affected was hospitalized and has since recovered.

The substance of concern was a cannabis product, which was not available for testing.

To date, there have been 16 confirmed or probable cases of vaping-associated lung illnesses in Canada.

Officials say while the person affected in this province used a cannabis product, others affected across the country have used nicotine or flavour-only vaping products.

The Department of Health says vaping is not harmless. It can increase your exposure to harmful chemicals, and the long-term health effects are unknown. It is not recommended for young people, pregnant women or non-smokers.

Given the recent and ongoing concerns about vaping-associated lung illness, and the limited understanding of the short and long-term health risks, the Department of Health says the safest approach for people who use cannabis is to avoid smoking or vaping cannabis extracts.