KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 6 – Oregon public health officials have recorded the second death from a lung illness linked to vaping in the United States, following the first casualty in Illinois last month.
BBC reported that the victim fell ill after testing on a product bought at a dispensary for recreational cannabis.
Investigators are investigating a mysterious lung disease related to vaping that has affected more than 200 people around the country, with several of the cases point to vaping THC, the main active compound in cannabis.
The victims have complained of symptoms including coughing, shortness of breath and fatigue as well as some cases of vomiting and diarrhoea; but there was no evidence of an infectious disease — such as a virus or bacteria — being responsible.
Oregon health official Ann Thomas reportedly said it was not clear whether the most recently reported victim’s illness was caused by contaminants, ingredients in the liquid or the vaping device itself.
Separately, officials investigating these illnesses have discovered that an oil derived from vitamin E was found in samples of marijuana products used by the victims and those who used different brands of products in recent weeks.
Despite the discovery of the chemical as the first common element in the cases, health officials said it is too early to know whether this is causing the injuries.
“We knew from earlier testing by New York that they had found vitamin E acetate, but to have FDA talk about it from their overall testing plan, that was the most remarkable thing that we heard,” according to an official cited by The Washington Post.
