There are 21 lung disease cases in the state of California that may be connected to unlicensed marijuana vaping products.
The state’s public health authorities are investigating these cases of severe lung disease that appear to be connected to vaping unlicensed cannabis products. They may also be a part of a larger outbreak that has sickened at least 150 people around the United States since June.
The victims, many young adults and teenagers, developed severe lung illness that was not caused by an obvious infectious agent and required aggressive treatment, including ventilation.
Cases have been reported across California but only Kings County has been mentioned by public health officials.
“Our doctors noticed these cases of acute respiratory distress syndrome, and typically this time of year you’d see maybe one case. We had seven inside a month,” said Nancy Gerking, assistant director of public health in Kings County. “That’s when the alert was sounded.”
