EVANSTON — The first case of vaping-associated lung illness in Wyoming has been confirmed in a Uinta County resident, according to a press release issued by the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH). The release states the young adult was hospitalized with severe lung disease. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), as of Thursday, Sept. 19, there were 530 confirmed cases of vaping-associated lung disease spread across the country in 38 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The CDC reported there have been seven deaths confirmed in California, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota and Oregon. 

Additional information reported by the CDC said that sex and age data is available on approximately 375 of the 530 cases, and 72% of those cases are male, 67% are between the ages of 18 and 34 and 16% of the individuals are under the age of 18. 

Dr. Alexia Harrist, state health officer and state epidemiologist for WDH, said the Uinta County resident “reported vaping in the months leading up to illness.” That individual is reportedly in his or her 20s and has now been released from the hospital. Harrist said WDH was not releasing any additional information, including where the hospitalization occurred, due to patient privacy concerns. 

The CDC reports that all patients treated for the lung disease have reported using e-cigarettes prior to becoming ill and no consistent evidence of an infectious cause has been discovered, leading to chemical exposure as the suspected culprit. 

The CDC also reports that most of the patients have reported using e-cigarettes containing THC or THC in combination with nicotine, although some have reported using products containing nicotine only. Some have reported using black market THC products. The investigation into the outbreak of illness has not identified any specific vaping product or substance to link all of the cases. 

Not only is the CDC investigating the outbreak, but The Washington Post reports the federal Food and Drug Administration has also begun a probe, focusing specifically on the supply chain of vaping products and not on the individual people who may be vaping controlled substances. 

Symptoms associated with vaping-related lung illness include cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue, fever, and even nausea, vomiting and weight loss.

“If people who vape experience symptoms associated with severe lung disease, they should seek medical care right away,” said Harrist. 

As healthcare professionals nationwide continue to investigate the outbreak and treat those afflicted, the CDC recommends people consider refraining from vaping and warns people against buying vaping products of any type off the street or modifying or adding substances to products purchased from vaping merchants.