Wildfires, beyond their immediate destruction, pose significant indirect health risks by promoting infections. Burns and smoke inhalation can both compromise the immune system, increasing vulnerability to respiratory infections like influenza and pneumonia for years after exposure. Wildfire smoke carries a complex mixture of harmful substances, including microbes, which can travel long distances and potentially cause infections like valley fever, a lung infection caused by soil-borne fungi. While research is ongoing to fully understand the extent of these risks, public health responses to wildfires should prioritize infection prevention through measures like providing masks and implementing surveillance to detect and manage potential outbreaks, especially in crowded shelters.
Over the past several days, the world has watched on in shock as wildfires have devastated large parts of Los Angeles.
Beyond the obvious destruction – to landscapes, homes, businesses and more – fires at this scale have far-reaching effects on communities. A number of these concern human health.
