The immediate health impacts of the summer bushfires have been laid bare by new statistics which show an almost 100 per cent jump in asthma related emergency department presentations across the Murray area in the week of January 5 to 11, 2020.

In the new report, released today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the Murray statistical area, which includes just east of Jingellic and across to Albury, saw a 98.8 per cent increase in those seven days in emergency asthma presentations compared to 12 months earlier.

The report, titled Australian bushfires 2019-20 exploring the short-term health impacts, showed the week from January 5 was the worst across the region when it came to respiratory issues.

In those seven days alone, there was a 140.9 per cent increase in over-the-counter and prescription sales of inhalers for shortness of breath.

There was also a 42.34 per cent rise in the number of PBS scripts for inhalants and adrenergics for obstructive airway diseases.

While Albury Wodonga Health emergency and critical care director David Clancy said they didn't receive a "large spike" in asthma emergency presentations during the 2020 summer bushfires, they did see some "smoke-related asthma presentations".

"Each year Albury Wodonga Health treats hundreds of people through our emergency departments for respiratory distress, including for asthma," he told The Border Mail.

"We're continually reviewing and adapting our escalation plans and we are well prepared to deal with any surges that can arise from smoke and other seasonal factors."

AWH encourages anyone with asthma to make regular contact with their GP and keep up to date with their asthma action plans.

IN OTHER NEWS:

The AIHW report found the analysed hospital emergency department data for NSW shows a "clear increase in presentations for respiratory problems" during the bushfire season compared with data for the previous year.

"Data for smaller geographical areas below the state level statistical area level four show strong impacts in this regard in regions where bushfires burned nearby," the findings said.

"For people residing in the Riverina where the Dunns Road megafire burned at emergency warning level near Batlow for several days, respiratory-related presentations to an emergency department increased by 86 per cent for the week beginning January 5 when compared with presentations for the same week in the previous year."

The Riverina region includes Jingellic, Wagga and Tumbarumba.