OLYMPIA, Wash. — Officials with the Washington State Department of Health on Monday confirmed two new cases of severe pulmonary disease linked to vaping.
Both individuals live in Spokane and the cases were identified by the Spokane Regional Health District. There are now three confirmed cases in the state.
Last week, officials announced that a King County teen was the first in the state to be diagnosed with severe lung disease related to vaping.
“The symptoms of these patients match what the Centers 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,” Washington State Health Officer Kathy Lofy said in a news release on Monday. “This is now a state-wide outbreak.”
Health officials said one case was a patient in their teens and one was in their 20s.
“All three confirmed cases reported vaping prior to illness but to date we have not identified a product, device or additive that are common to all three cases,” officials said.
Officials said their investigation into the specifics of products used, devices, additives and definitive cause remains ongoing.
The Department of Health said it will continue to provide updates on confirmed cases here.
More news from KIRO 7
- UW nutritionist: Non-meat Impossible burgers don't deserve a health halo
- Racist flyers left in Seattle's Columbia City neighborhood
- Police: Issaquah HS student arrested after social media post threat
- Over 2,000 fetal remains found at ex-abortion doctor's home
- Do you have an investigative story tip? Send us an email at investigate@kiro7.com
Cox Media Group
