Gov. Kate Brown and Oregon House Republican Leader Christine Drazan, from Canby, are calling for Oregonians to stop using vaping products immediately in the wake of the second confirmed vaping-related death in the state.
The Oregon Health Authority confirmed the death today, while also issuing a public health warning that urged Oregonians to cease the use of vaping products until a cause has been identified for the severe lung illness that has caused at least a dozen deaths across the country so far.
“Every preventable death is a tragedy, and absolutely unacceptable,” Gov. Brown said in a statement. “My heart goes out to the families who have lost loved ones to this very unfortunate circumstance. We need to make sure that no other family suffers through this kind of tragedy.”
This is the second death among the five previously reported cases. Oregon’s first fatality was announced on Sept. 3. All five cases are part of a national outbreak of severe lung injury linked to vaping and e-cigarette use.
Brown said she has also asked the Oregon Department of Justice to advise what legal options are available to the state, up to and including the temporary ban of all vaping products.
“Until we know more, I am urging all Oregonians, adults and youth, to take heed of this public health warning and to cease the use of vaping products,” Brown said.
Drazan, the recently elected Republican leader in the House of Representatives, issued her own support of the move in a separate statement Thursday.
“Safeguarding public health has to be our number one priority,” Rep. Drazan said. “I urge all Oregonians to take this advisory seriously and stop using vape products immediately until the Oregon Health Authority can properly investigate the risks.”
The OHA’s public health warning is available here.
