Health officials reported two new cases of serious lung illnesses connected to vaporizers on Friday. The two new cases, one in King County and one in Mason County, bring the statewide total to five individuals who have fallen ill with a mysterious lung disease following vape use.
The new King County case involves a woman in her 30s who was admitted to a King County hospital in mid-September after using both e-cigarettes and THC vape pens but has since been released from the hospital, according to the county’s public health department.
“The patient reported vaping THC products purchased from legal pot shops as well as nicotine containing products without THC,” the health department said. “The investigation into the specific vaping devices and products used is ongoing.”
The new Mason County case involves a woman in her 20s who used an e-cigarette, not a THC vape device, and is currently still in the hospital.
“The patient is currently receiving excellent care and is stable,” said Alison Smallwood, a spokesperson for Mason County Public Health. “At this point in time, it does not appear to be THC, it appears to be only vape juice or whatever you would call that.”
The Washington cases come as a vape-related lung illness spreads across the country. The Centers for Disease Control has reported 530 cases of the mysterious illness and Missouri confirmed the eighth apparent death related to vaping on Friday.
King County’s public health department is warning people not to vape at all.
“The specific devices and/or substances that are responsible for the lung injury remain unknown and therefore our guidance has not changed: E-cigarettes and vaping are not safe and people should avoid using e-cigarettes and vaping until the cause of this outbreak is known,” said Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County.
The county’s stark warning goes beyond the current recommendations from the state Department of Health (DOH). The state DOH warns that vape users should monitor themselves for symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, chest pain) and that “the healthiest option is to not smoke or vape.”
DOH is in a slightly uncomfortable position in that they have a hand in regulating cannabis in the state. DOH has provided advice to the Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) on various regulatory matters over the last five years and runs the state’s medical marijuana program. That program was designed to offer approved patients “higher quality [cannabis] products to meet their medical needs.” Cannabis oil, the extract that is put in pot vape pens, can become a DOH approved product, but it’s not clear if DOH had approved any specific vaporizers.
Kristen Maki, a spokesperson for DOH, said, “Vaping products contain other harmful chemicals,” but did not say that DOH is warning people to stop vaping cannabis entirely, as King County’s health department has.
A spokesperson at the LCB was not immediately available for comment Friday.
