SYDNEY, Nov 10 (NNN-AAP) – Health authorities of Australia’s state of Victoria, warned residents in parts of the state, to be cautious of epidemic thunderstorm asthma, today.
According to Victoria’s health department, epidemic thunderstorm asthma is, when a large number of people develop asthma symptoms, over a short period of time. Such events are uncommon and could happen during grass pollen season, from Oct through Dec in south-east Australia.
Victoria’s health department said, the combination of forecast extreme grass pollen levels and a certain type of thunderstorm, with strong winds, means that, epidemic thunderstorm asthma may occur.
The health authorities suggested residents in the Wimmera region, in north-west Victoria, who have asthma or hay fever, or who experience wheezing, breathlessness, a feeling of tightness in the chest or a persistent cough, to carry reliever medication at all times and avoid wind gusts.
Melbourne, the capital city of Victoria, experienced the world’s largest epidemic thunderstorm asthma event, on Nov 21, 2016, with thousands of people developing breathing difficulties in a very short period of time.– NNN-AAP
