Wildfire-related fine particulate matter and infectious disease morbidity

This thesis examines how smoke from wildfires affects the risk of infectious diseases. Wildfires release fine particles into the air that can be inhaled deep into the lungs, but their effects on infections are not well understood. Using data from several countries, this research shows that exposure to wildfire smoke increases the risk of illnesses such as flu, dengue, and severe infections leading to sepsis. Children, teenagers, and some communities are more affected than others. These findings highlight an important and growing public health risk and highlight the need for better protection and preparedness as wildfires become more common due to climate change.