BENDIGO residents have been warned be ready for possible severe asthma as thunderstorms are forecast across the state while pollen counts soar.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Grass pollen forecasts were at extreme on Tuesday and high for Wednesday and Thursday, dropping Friday, then extreme again on Saturday and Sunday at the Bendigo pollen measurement station.
Rain and possible storms are forecast for Bendigo on Wednesday. The Bureau of Meteorology has also issued a severe weather warning for parts of central Victoria, including Maryborough, on Wednesday.
Health authorities have urged anyone at risk of asthma to speak to a general practitioner to make sure their management plan is up to date.
Deakin University NeuroAllergy Research Laboratory Associate Professor Cenk Suphioglu said Bendigo and the northern regions were at quite a high pollen risk this week, creating one of the triggers for thunderstorm asthma.
He said the arrival of a thunderstorm was the second trigger needed for such an event.
Associate Professor Suphioglu's recent analysis of data from the deadly weather events has shown three factors putting people at risk of thunderstorm asthma: a rye-grass pollen allergy, undiagnosed asthma and the absence of a plan for the management and treatment of asthma.
He warned anyone sneezing or wheezing when they went outdoors should see their doctor, as they possibly had undiagnosed asthma.
Ambulance Victoria has also warned the community to be aware of the signs of asthma and know when to call for help.
Ambulance Victoria's Director of Emergency Management Justin Dunlop said anyone with seasonal hay fever was at an increased risk of asthma developing during a thunderstorm asthma event.
Mr Dunlop said these people should speak to their general practitioners or pharmacist about treatment, and whether they needed an asthma preventer.
He said those with asthma should discuss their management plan with their GP and make sure preventer and reliever medication and a spacer were on hand.
Mr Dunlops said people should avoid going outside during thunderstorms or the wind gusts preceeding rain between October and December.
Associate Professor Suphioglu said he expected a long grass pollen season this year in Victoria.
He said the NSW Riverina already had needed alerts about thunderstorm asthma in late October, where it was normally unheard of outside of November.
OTHER NEWS:
Associate Professor Suphioglu said people at risk should keep track of pollen forecasts.
He said a string of days with high or extreme grass pollen forecasts meant an area was at risk, because it meant pollen was present.
The official thunderstorm asthma forecast remains low for the Northern Country and North Central Districts.
Watch out for thunderstorm asthma alerts on the VicEmergency website.
Find out more about thunderstorm asthma on the Victorian government's Better Health Channel.
Call Triple Zero (000) if you or anyone near you is struggling to breath, coughing, wheezing, unable to speak a full sentence in one breath or if reliever medication isn't lasting as long as usual.
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.