Asthma forecasting stops for the year

VICTORIA’S epidemic thunderstorm asthma forecasting system has stopped delivering forecasts, to coincide with the end of grass pollen season.

Forecasts will resume on October 1, 2018.

Victoria’s chief health officer, Professor Charles Guest, said the end of the risk of the grass pollen season for 2017 on December 31 does not mean people with asthma or hay fever should be complacent when it comes to their asthma management and symptom control.

Victoria’s epidemic thunderstorm asthma forecasting system – one of the first in the world – was made possible by a state government investment in partnerships with the Bureau of Meteorology, the University of Melbourne and Deakin University.

The forecasting system predicts epidemic thunderstorm asthma events triggered by high grass pollen levels and a certain type of thunderstorm.

These uncommon events have the potential to cause a large number of people to develop asthma symptoms over a short period of time, specifically during grass pollen season between October 1 and December 31 each year.

Good asthma management means taking preventer medication regularly as prescribed, using inhalers correctly and seeing your doctor if there are any ongoing symptoms.

“We want everyone – especially people with asthma and hay fever – to be as prepared as they can all year round,” Professor Guest said.

“Grass pollen season is over, but asthma symptoms may develop at any time, so make sure you have an up to date asthma action plan.”

Asthma Australia chief executive officer Michele Goldman said good asthma management year-round as well as treating hay fever symptoms made a person less vulnerable to asthma flare-ups.

“This includes taking preventer medication as prescribed, having correct inhaler technique, an asthma action plan and an annual review with your doctor.

“People often treat their asthma as a short-term condition that comes and goes when they have asthma symptoms. But asthma is a chronic (longterm) condition that’s always there, even when you don’t have symptoms.”

For more information on thunderstorm asthma and asthma first aid, head to betterhealth.vic.gov.au.