Two Spokane cases confirm lung disease from vaping

Washington State Department of Health officials Tuesday confirmed two new cases of severe pulmonary disease linked to vaping. These cases were identified by the Spokane Regional Health District and are both currently living in Spokane County.

“The symptoms of these patients match what the Center for Disease Control and Prevention have asked all state and local health jurisdictions to be on the lookout for in regards to the nationwide investigation into this matter,” said Washington State Health Officer Kathy Lofy. “This is now a state-wide outbreak.”

The Spokane Regional Health District reports the two new confirmed cases are a patient in their teens and a patient in the 20's. There are now three confirmed cases in Washington. All three confirmed cases reported vaping prior to illness, but to date, a product, device or additive common to all three cases has not been identified.

While the CDC investigation is ongoing and has not identified a definitive cause, all reported cases have a history of using vaping devices.

In August, CDC and the FDA launched a multi-state investigation regarding an outbreak of severe lung disease associated with using vaping devices/e-cigarette products.

State health official continue to urge clinicians to report any known hospitalized cases of severe lung disease associated with vaping to their local health department.

“We will continue to update the public on the status of the investigation and steps they can take to protect their health,” Lofy said.

The Department of Health will update confirmed cases on their website as facts become available.

Washington officials Monday reported the first confirmed case of a severe lung disease linked with the use of vaping devices on the west side of the state.

Lofy stated, “This is the first patient identified in Washington associated with this outbreak.”

Seattle and King County have reported the patient is a young adult male who has recovered after being hospitalized in August at a local King County hospital.