Australia's bushfire season saw spikes in emergency respiratory visits and inhaler sales, report finds

A study examining the short-term health impacts of bushfire smoke found that poor air quality exacerbated respiratory illnesses

The 2019-20 Australian bushfire season saw unprecedented fires and black smoke sweep across the country, leading to increases in emergency department visits for respiratory problems and in sales of asthma medication.

A report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) published on Wednesday examined some of the short-term health impacts of the bushfires by examining hospital emergency department presentations in New South Wales from September 2019 to February 2020. Data from air quality monitoring stations in NSW, the Australian Capital Territory and parts of Victoria were also examined.