A recent study published in the JAMA medical journal highlights the significant impact of the deadly wildfires that ravaged Los Angeles and Maui, Hawai’i, on public health. The research indicates that while 30 deaths were directly attributed to the L.A. wildfires, an additional 440 individuals may have died from health conditions related to the wildfires, such as heart or lung issues exacerbated by smoke exposure and delays in medical care.
Researchers noted a total of 6,371 observed deaths compared to 5,931 expected deaths based on previous data, resulting in 440 “excess deaths.” They emphasized that the data is provisional and factors beyond what was measured could have played a role in the outcomes.
Dr. Sonia Angell from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health stressed the need for improved health tracking to better understand and address the long-term health effects of wildfires. Angell emphasized that climate-related health impacts extend beyond the immediate disaster events and underscored the importance of proactive surveillance systems to prevent illness and death.
Dr. Courtney Howard, an emergency physician in Yellowknife, highlighted the toxic nature of wildfire smoke and emphasized the necessity of minimizing exposure to safeguard lung health. Health officials have cautioned vulnerable populations, including the elderly, pregnant women, young children, and individuals with underlying medical conditions, about the health risks posed by wildfire smoke.
In response to the escalating intensity of wildfires in Canada, attributed to climate change and greenhouse gas emissions, Howard urged urgent action to reduce emissions and mitigate the health impacts of wildfires on communities.