Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 8-fold increase in wildfire-related emergency visits during Los Angeles County fires; all-cause emergency visits dropped 9% from January 7-12

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Feb. 6 released a report  on emergency department use during the Los Angeles County wildfires that began Jan. 7. All-cause ED encounters in Los Angeles County initially decreased 9% after the start of wildfires, while wildfire-associated encounters increased eightfold. Wildfire-associated ED encounters peaked from the period of Jan. 7-12, aligning with worsened air quality deemed unhealthy for sensitive groups. The CDC said the initial decrease in all-cause visits could be due to evacuations; alterations in activity patterns; or residents seeking care in clinics, urgent care centers or EDs in neighboring counties.