PORTLAND — The people in Oregon sickened by vaping-related lung illness came from eight counties, were 34 years old on average and were more likely to be women than men, according to data published Tuesday by state health officials.
As of Saturday, the monthslong epidemic has struck 20 Oregonians, the Oregon Health Authority said, two of whom died. Nationally, nearly 2,300 people have fallen ill in 49 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The epidemic appears to be slowing down, with fewer people admitted to hospitals since early September, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Oregon Health Authority’s data, which included details on victims’ ages, their county of residence and their sex, don’t reveal any clear-cut patterns. Twelve of the 20 victims were women, according to the data, and 11 were younger than 35 years old.