A man in Oregon has died after he developed a severe lung disease that could be linked to vaping, state health officials said this week.
The victim was not identified by health officials, but according to the state's Health Authority, the man died in July after using an e-cigarette or vaping device that contained marijuana oil from a legal dispensary. The man's symptoms matched those reported in more than 200 cases in 25 states across the country.
"We don’t yet know the exact cause of these illnesses — whether they’re caused by contaminants, ingredients in the liquid or something else, such as the device itself," said Ann Thomas, M.D., public health physician at OHA’s Public Health Division.
Officials did not name the brand of the product, or the dispensary that sold the marijuana oil.
In August, another person died from the same lung illness being reported after using an e-cigarette. The exact cause of the deaths and the dangers presented by vaping are not well-understood, but are being investigated by state and federal regulators.
People who have fallen ill reported worsening symptoms that included shortness of breath, cough, chest pain, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, fever or weight loss. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the affected states have not identified a cause, but all cases have reported e-cigarette use or vaping.
Health officials say anyone who has recently used vaping products like e-cigarettes and vaping products and are having difficulty breathing should seek medical attention immediately.
Meanwhile, health officials in Michigan banned the sale of flavored e-cigarettes after the governor said young people in her state needed to be protected from the potentially harmful effects of vaping.
The CDC says its investigation into the lung disease and its possible link to vaping is ongoing.