Washington Running Totals

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Cases of severe lung illness linked to the use of vaping products by county:

County	Month Illness Occurred	Count and Age Range
King	Aug 2019	1    (10-19 years old)
King	Sep 2019	1    (30-39 years old)
Mason	Sep 2019	1    (20-29 years old)
Pierce	Sep 2019	1    (40-49 years old)
Snohomish	Aug 2019	1    (20-29 years old)
Spokane	Aug 2019	1    (10-19 years old)
Spokane	Aug 2019	1    (20-29 years old)

Last update: September 25

https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/SevereLungIllness

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Severe Lung Illness

Severe lung illness linked to use of vaping products in Washington State

The Washington State Department of Health is closely monitoring an ongoing investigation headed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration regarding an outbreak of severe lung illness associated with using vaping products.

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

Vaping devices — also known as JUULs, e-cigarettes, e-cigs, vapes, e-hookahs, vape pens, mods, tanks, or electronic nicotine delivery systems — can contain nicotine, marijuana, or other substances like flavoring agents and chemicals.

If you continue to use vaping devices, you should monitor yourself for symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath, chest pain) and promptly seek medical attention if you have concerns about your health. You should never buy vaping products with THC or other cannabinoids off the street, and you should not modify or add any substances to these products not intended by the manufacturer.

The Department of Health reminds people the healthiest option is to not smoke or vape.

Nicotine and marijuana can be harmful in any form. Anyone using tobacco or vaping products and attempting to quit should use evidence-based treatments, including counseling and FDA-approved medications. If you need help quitting tobacco or vaping products, contact your health care provider or access online resources to quit tobacco and/or marijuana.

For more detailed information on the federal investigation, please refer to the CDC web page regarding the matter.

Cases of severe lung illness linked to the use of vaping products by county:

County	Month Illness Occurred	Count and Age Range
King	Aug 2019	1    (10-19 years old)
King	Sep 2019	1    (30-39 years old)
Mason	Sep 2019	1    (20-29 years old)
Pierce	Sep 2019	1    (40-49 years old)
Snohomish	Aug 2019	1    (20-29 years old)
Spokane	Aug 2019	1    (10-19 years old)
Spokane	Aug 2019	1    (20-29 years old)

Last update: September 25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Case information

Since April 2019, there have been 12 cases of vaping associated lung injury reported in Washington. 50 percent of the patients are male.

County	Cases
King	6
Mason	1
Pierce	1
Snohomish	2
Spokane	2

Age	County
10 to 19 years old	4
20 to 29 years old	3
30 to 39 years old	3
40 to 49 years old	2

Reported use of products	Cases
THC products only	2
Nicotine products only	4
THC and nicotine product	2
Unknown	4

This page will be updated when we have new cases. Increases in case numbers may represent new patients or new reports of previously-identified patients.

Last update: October 16

https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/VapingAssociatedLungInjury

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Authorities in Klamath Falls and Washington State are awaiting autopsy results from the Oregon Medical Examiner to determine if Hadynn Outcalt-Arends, 23, died from vaping last week

Outcalt-Arends and his wife were celebrating their honeymoon at the Running Y Ranch Resort, where first responders arrived on Tuesday evening, October 29, and found him in distress. He was taken by ambulance to Sky Lakes Medical Center, where he died several hours later, early Wednesday morning.

 

“Staff performed pretty heroic efforts to keep him on life support. At some point, they (family members) agreed to take him off life support,” according to Thomas Hottman, press contact for Sky Lakes Medical Center.

Klamath County Sheriff Chris Kaber said his deputies were given a vape pen and container of vape juice when they arrived at the resort.

“We’ve secured the device and product. If there is no criminal case, they (the family) will tell us where they would like it sent,” Kaber said.

Kaber has been in contact with Klamath County District Attorney, and the Oregon Health Authority is interested as well, he said.

“We’re waiting to hear from the Medical Examiner,” Kaber said, noting that the autopsy report is necessary to determine if there is a need to investigate further.

“It’s my understanding the vape juice was purchased locally and consumed here,” Kaber said, though he would not identify where the device and liquid were purchased, pending results of the autopsy and investigation.

The autopsy was conducted by the Oregon Medical Examiner at their office in Jackson County, which is standard procedure for deaths in Klamath County that require an autopsy, according to Kaber.

The couple, married on October 11, lived in the Seattle area, according to his obituary.

Because he was a resident of Washington, the Washington State Department of Health is considered the lead agency in the investigation. They issued the following statement: “The Washington State Department of Health is working closely with Public Health—Seattle & King County to investigate a possible case of vaping associated lung injury in a Washington resident who has died. We are not able to provide additional detail at this time.”

As a resident of Washington, Outcalt-Arends' death—should it be determined to be related to vaping—would be considered a vaping-related death in Washington, not Oregon, according to Kristen Maki, Public Information Officer with the Washington State Department of Health.

https://www.kdrv.com/content/news/Possible-vaping-death-under-investigation-in-Klamath-Falls-564524611.html