Grass pollen season begins

October 3, 2018 BY James Taylor

High grass pollen levels and a certain type of thunderstorm can trigger a large number of people all experiencing asthma at the same time.

GRASS pollen season has begun, and data from Waurn Ponds is now helping drive Victoria’s epidemic thunderstorm asthma forecasting system.

Deputy Chief Health Officer Dr Angie Bone said with the forecasting system now live, Victorians can monitor the forecast and those at increased risk can take actions to protect themselves on high-risk days.

“The system also enables health professionals and emergency services to be prepared on days of increased risk,” Dr Bone said.

“The forecasts are available throughout Victoria’s grass pollen season, typically from October through December.”

Waurn Ponds is one of the sites of the pollen traps across Victoria that are used to verify the forecasting system’s statistical model, which is used to produce epidemic thunderstorm asthma forecasts.

Dr Bone said following the forecast was just one of the ways people can take action to protect themselves.

“The best way to protect yourself from thunderstorm asthma is through good management of asthma and hay fever.”

Good management means:

Recognising asthma and hay fever symptoms
Discussing these with your doctor or pharmacist
Taking your medication regularly, as appropriate, and
Updating and following your asthma or hay fever management plans.

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

Epidemic thunderstorm asthma is an uncommon phenomenon where a large number of people experience asthma over a short period of time, thought to be triggered by high grass pollen levels and a certain type of thunderstorm.

Where possible, people with asthma and hay fever should avoid exposure to springtime thunderstorms, especially the wind gusts that precede them.

Epidemic thunderstorm asthma forecasts are available on the VicEmergency app and website at emergency.vic.gov.au/prepare/#thunderstormasthma-forecast.

For more information about thunderstorm asthma, head to the Better Health Channel website at betterhealth.vic.gov.au/thunderstormasthma.