How many EVALI patients were hospitalized in California during the early pandemic?
During the early part of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, a specific group of patients in California were hospitalized with lung injury linked to vaping. Reports from the California Department of Public Health identified eight individuals with this condition in April 2020. These cases were part of the broader EVALI outbreak that affected many states.
What the research says
A field report from California specifically documented eight patients who were hospitalized with e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury. These cases were reported to the state health department in April 2020, which was during the early phase of the pandemic 1.
Other reports provide context on the wider outbreak but do not list the specific California numbers for that time. One report updated data on U.S. patients as of October 2019, before the April 2020 California cases were fully reported 2. Another report described the total number of hospitalized cases across the United States as of December 2019, which also predates the specific California figures mentioned 3.
Clinical guidance issued by the CDC during this period helped health care professionals identify and treat suspected cases of EVALI 45. While Utah also saw a series of cases involving 83 residents, the specific count for California during the early pandemic was eight 6.
What to ask your doctor
- What are the signs of EVALI that I should watch for if I use vaping products?
- How soon should I seek medical help if I develop lung symptoms after vaping?
- Are there specific vaping ingredients that are more likely to cause lung injury?
- What tests might a doctor order to check for EVALI if I have breathing trouble?
This question is drawn from common patient questions about Infectious Disease and answered using cited medical research. We do not provide individualized advice.