Their article in Science says wildfires can allow for pockets where microbes can survive the heat, and could potentially travel “hundreds of miles” depending on the fire and atmospheric conditions at play. Given that wildfire seasons are getting longer and more severe, the authors write that more research needs to be done to understand how far and which microbes are transported by smoke under different conditions.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2020/12/18/could-wildfire-smoke-spread-infectious-diseases/