The Times Australia
The Times World News

.
Men's Weekly

.

It's summer, so bushfires and COVID collide. 3 ways one affects the other

  • Written by Brian Oliver, Research Leader in Respiratory cellular and molecular biology at the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research and Professor, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney

It’s summer in a pandemic. So as Australia opens its borders and COVID case numbers rise, we’ll likely see the interplay of COVID and bushfires.

Our bodies react to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID, and bushfires in similar ways.

Both affect the lungs. Both can have serious health consequences in vulnerable populations, such as elderly people. Both can have long-term health consequences.

Read more: How does bushfire smoke affect our health? 6 things you need to know[1]

What we know so far

From a simple health perspective, if you have been seriously ill with COVID your response to bushfire smoke is likely to be more serious, and vice versa.

However, because COVID is still a new disease, the evidence for these effects is still sparse.

So far, the best evidence[2] for the impact of COVID on people affected by smoke is from studies in communities that burn biomass (such as plant material or animal dung) as an energy source. In this scenario, a person is exposed to smoke constantly rather than the intermittent smoke that occurs during bushfire seasons.

How about for someone who is exposed to a one-off bushfire? Or who has COVID for the first time? Here are three ways one affects the other.

1. Bushfires and risk

Bushfire smoke causes respiratory symptoms. In people with existing respiratory or heart disease this increase in symptoms can be life-threatening. The same is true for COVID.

However, if a person was to be infected with the virus that causes COVID and exposed to bushfire smoke at the same time it would be quite difficult to work out if the symptoms were the result of one or the other or both.

What studies have looked at so far is if bushfire smoke increases the likelihood of catching COVID.

A study based on the 2020 bushfire season in New South Wales found an association[3] between living in a bushfire-burned area and the incidence of COVID. In other words, it was more likely for bushfire-burned areas to have more COVID cases than unburnt areas. But there was no link between exposure to particulate matter from all forms of pollution and COVID.

Studies in the United States[4] have also found associations between short-term exposure to smoke from bushfires and COVID cases and deaths.

The reasons for these patterns might be as simple as bushfire smoke causing what would have been asymptomatic COVID to become symptomatic.

Alternatively, the link could be related to the virus “hitching a ride[5]” on pollution particles. Or air pollution may increase[6] the numbers of ACE2 receptors (or special enzymes[7]) in the body, which SARS-CoV-2 uses to infect cells.

Read more: Revealed: the protein 'spike' that lets the 2019-nCoV coronavirus pierce and invade human cells[8]

2. COVID spread

During a bushfire, if people stay inside at home to avoid smoke exposure, it can decrease the spread of the virus.

However, if people move from house to house to check on other people, it could increase transmission.

In catastrophic bushfires, evacuation often occurs. Again, this could increase transmission by bringing big groups together.

We know outdoor transmission[9] of COVID is very rare. So taking people who normally would be outdoors and placing them indoors (with an infected person) could increase transmission rates.

Another consideration is vaccination rates, which are lower[10] outside cities in Australia. So in areas with bushfires, the population is more vulnerable to COVID. In these areas, people are more likely to have underlying health conditions that make them more vulnerable to COVID, such as heart[11] or lung disease[12].

Read more: Pregnant women should take extra care to minimise their exposure to bushfire smoke[13]

3. Testing rates rise

If we accept people are getting tested for COVID because they have symptoms, then we also have to accept people are more likely to have tests during a bushfire. That’s because smoke makes people cough and irritates their nose (both are COVID symptoms) and people with heart problems are often breathless, another COVID symptom.

It would also be reasonable to expect volunteers from different regions and first responders from different regions would have surveillance COVID testing. If you do more testing, you find more COVID[14]. Once again, COVID numbers would increase.

In a nutshell

The link between COVID and bushfires is complex. Symptoms may overlap and our behaviour in response to one emergency affects the other. Then there’s the complex biology of how our body reacts to particulate air pollution released during bushfires.

The best advice to avoid the adverse health effects of COVID and bushfires is to avoid exposure to both. Wearing a N95/P2 mask is a good way[15] to safeguard yourself from bushfire smoke and COVID.

References

  1. ^ How does bushfire smoke affect our health? 6 things you need to know (theconversation.com)
  2. ^ evidence (doi.org)
  3. ^ an association (www.sciencedirect.com)
  4. ^ United States (www.science.org)
  5. ^ hitching a ride (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
  6. ^ may increase (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
  7. ^ special enzymes (theconversation.com)
  8. ^ Revealed: the protein 'spike' that lets the 2019-nCoV coronavirus pierce and invade human cells (theconversation.com)
  9. ^ outdoor transmission (www.nytimes.com)
  10. ^ lower (www.theguardian.com)
  11. ^ heart (www.ruralhealth.org.au)
  12. ^ lung disease (www.aihw.gov.au)
  13. ^ Pregnant women should take extra care to minimise their exposure to bushfire smoke (theconversation.com)
  14. ^ testing, you find more COVID (ourworldindata.org)
  15. ^ good way (www.health.nsw.gov.au)

Read more https://theconversation.com/its-summer-so-bushfires-and-covid-collide-3-ways-one-affects-the-other-169833

Times Magazine

From Beach Bops to Alpine Anthems: Your Sonos Survival Guide for a Long Weekend Escape

Alright, fellow adventurers and relaxation enthusiasts! So, you've packed your bags, charged your devices, and mentally prepared for that glorious King's Birthday long weekend. But hold on, are you really ready? Because a true long weekend warrior kn...

Effective Commercial Pest Control Solutions for a Safer Workplace

Keeping a workplace clean, safe, and free from pests is essential for maintaining productivity, protecting employee health, and upholding a company's reputation. Pests pose health risks, can cause structural damage, and can lead to serious legal an...

The Science Behind Reverse Osmosis and Why It Matters

What is reverse osmosis? Reverse osmosis (RO) is a water purification process that removes contaminants by forcing water through a semi-permeable membrane. This membrane allows only water molecules to pass through while blocking impurities such as...

Foodbank Queensland celebrates local hero for National Volunteer Week

Stephen Carey is a bit bananas.   He splits his time between his insurance broker business, caring for his young family, and volunteering for Foodbank Queensland one day a week. He’s even run the Bridge to Brisbane in a banana suit to raise mon...

Senior of the Year Nominations Open

The Allan Labor Government is encouraging all Victorians to recognise the valuable contributions of older members of our community by nominating them for the 2025 Victorian Senior of the Year Awards.  Minister for Ageing Ingrid Stitt today annou...

CNC Machining Meets Stage Design - Black Swan State Theatre Company & Tommotek

When artistry meets precision engineering, incredible things happen. That’s exactly what unfolded when Tommotek worked alongside the Black Swan State Theatre Company on several of their innovative stage productions. With tight deadlines and intrica...

The Times Features

Running Across Australia: What Really Holds the Body Together?

How William Goodge’s 3,800km run reveals the connection between movement, mindset, and mental resilience As a business owner, I’ve come to realise that the biggest wins rarely com...

Telehealth is Transforming Healthcare Services in Australia

It has traditionally not been easy to access timely healthcare in Australia, particularly for people who live in remote areas. Many of them spend hours on the road just to see a...

Launchd Acquires Huume, Strengthening Creative Firepower Across Talent-Led Marketing

Launchd, a leader in talent, technology and brand partnerships, has announced its acquisition of influencer talent management agency Huume from IZEA. The move comes as the medi...

Vietnam's "Gold Coast" Emerges as Extraordinary Investment Frontier and Australian Inspired Way of Life

$2 Billion super-city in Vung Tau set to replicate Australia's Gold Coast success story A culturally metamorphic development aptly named "Gold Coast" is set to reshape Vietna...

Choosing the Wrong Agent Is the #1 Regret Among Aussie Property Sellers

Selling your home is often one of the largest financial transactions you’ll make, and for many Australians, it’s also one of the most emotional. A new survey of Australian home se...

Travel Insurance for Families: What Does it Cover and Why it’s Essential

Planning a family trip is exciting, but unexpected mishaps can turn your dream vacation into a stressful ordeal. That’s where travel insurance comes in—it’s your safety net when ...