Victorias west on high alert after thunderstorm asthma warnings

Victorian health authorities are preparing for a surge in hospital presentations amid fears wet weather conditions forecast for the state’s west could lead to a thunderstorm asthma epidemic.

The Department of Health said a combination of high grass pollen levels and strong winds meant there was an increased chance people could develop asthma symptoms in a short period of time.

A thunderstorm warning has been issued for parts of Victoria’s west.Credit:ninevms

Residents in the Mallee, South West, and Wimmera regions have been told to stay indoors and activate their asthma management plan.

Acting Chief Health Officer Ben Cowie said hospitals across the state were under pressure due to COVID-19 but additional capacity was being stood up to deal with the influx of respiratory patients.

“There is capacity, but we would like to limit that capacity to the people who really need it,” he said.

Professor Cowie said thunderstorm asthma events could lead to people without a history of respiratory illness having their first asthma attack.

“This could be their first episode, which is very scary if it happens,” he said.

“We anticipate there will be some presentations with asthma, including among people who have not had it before.”

According to the Melbourne Pollen Count, East Gippsland, Mallee, North East, Northern Country and Wimmera are expected to hit “extreme” levels of pollen in the air on Thursday.

Much of the state’s centre, including Melbourne, will also reach “high” pollen counts.

This will bring a high thunderstorm asthma risk for the South West, Mallee, and Wimmera, and a moderate risk for Melbourne, Bendigo and Shepparton.

Conditions are expected to ease on Friday as the front travels east, reducing the risk of a thunderstorm asthma epidemic in west and central Victoria to “low” and increasing the possibility in eastern Victoria to moderate.

A father told 3AW he had to call an ambulance for his daughter on Thursday morning after she struggled to breathe.

“She suffers asthma and she can’t breathe,” he said on air.

“Everyone be careful.”

Royal Melbourne Hospital allergy specialist Jo Douglass said it was a time of high risk for asthmatic people, due to the prevalence of spring thunderstorms and high pollen counts.

“It’s five years since 2016 and we have a thunderstorm asthma event every five to seven years so we’re owed one,” she said.

Ten people died in Victoria as a result of the thunderstorm asthma event of November 21, 2016, after grass pollen burst into smaller particles during a thunderstorm, triggering severe asthma in thousands of people across Melbourne.

It was the most deadly outbreak of thunderstorm asthma recorded in the world.

Thunderstorm asthma events can occur from October through to December when pollen grains are drawn up into the clouds as thunderstorms form, absorbing moisture and bursting open.

People are advised to protect themselves by avoiding being outdoors in the storm, taking preventative medication as directed and carrying relievers in case they need to manage an asthma attack.

Having both asthma and hay fever can increase the risk of complications.

An Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman said the service hadn’t recorded an increase in call-outs for breathing difficulties and would continue to monitor the situation closely throughout the day.

Anyone with concerns should also monitor the epidemic thunderstorm asthma risk forecast on the VicEmergency app.

Victorians are advised to see their doctor or call a nurse on 1300 60 60 24 if they require medical advice. If someone is not breathing, their asthma suddenly becomes worse or is not improving, or if they are having an asthma attack without a reliever on hand, they should immediately call 000.

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