In the last week of November 2016 an unusual weather condition created severe problems with the lungs of so many Melburnians. In a phenomenon that was widely reported around the globe, thousands of people were rushed to hospitals; nine of them died.
Now, with the start of spring, health authorities are warning those in New South Wales that the epidemic may return.
NSW Health issued a warning for asthma sufferers, advising that they ensure they proactively manage symptoms and had an asthma action plan in place.
“If you have asthma, spring is an important time to make sure you have an asthma action plan and are proactively managing your symptoms," said NSW Health’s Director of Environmental Health, Dr Ben Scalley.
“It’s also important for people to know Asthma first aid, so they can help family and friends when they need it.
However, Deakin environmental allergist Associate Professor Cenk Suphioğlu, tells SBS Turkish that it's not just asthma sufferers who should be worried.
Professor Suphioğlu discovered the link between rye grass and thunderstorm related asthma epidemic and explains the phenomenon that caused the death of nine people in Melbourne last November.
"‘Thunderstorm Asthma’ is an allergic reaction to grass pollen," says Suphioğlu. "And you don’t have to be asthmatic to get it."
Associate Professor Cenk Suphioglu Source: Courtesy of Deakin University
"Thunderstorm Asthma is a condition brought on when storms play havoc with pollen."
"It affects those who don’t normally suffer from asthma or respiratory problems."
Suphioğlu explains, "It’s this surprise element that makes ‘Thunderstorm Asthma’ so dangerous and leads to people heading straight to the emergency department."
"'Thunderstorm Asthma' is a rare phenomenon caused by a perfect storm of weather conditions and airborne allergens," he explains.
"Studies have shown that more than 95 per cent of thunderstorm asthmatics are allergic to pollen and rye grass pollen."
In regard to last year's wave of attacks in Melbourne, Prof Suphioğlu explains "we had had a lot of rain, which means there is a lot of grass, which also means there is a lot of pollen."
"We have also had windy conditions, which plays a role in dispersal and carriage of pollen over distances to impact on humans. Intact pollen grains cannot cause asthma."
"But when the pollen grains encounter sudden rainfall or moisture and when the thunderstorm comes in, the pollen grains suddenly bursts in the air and releases the particles that irritate the airways of humans.”
Associate Professor Cenk Suphioğlu says, "the thunderstorm asthma epidemic is not new."
NSW Health director of environmental health Ben Scalley confirms this, saying, "While Sydney hasn't had a major event like Melbourne, thunderstorm asthma events have been significant in other parts of NSW in recent years, including Wagga Wagga."
So what made Melbourne the 'perfect storm' for such a mass health event?
"Melbourne is both the allergy and thunderstorm capital of Australia," he says. "November is the peak month for ‘Thunderstorm Asthma’."
As to what could be done to help prevent future outbreaks, Suphioğlu suggests, "I believe that hay fever sufferers should consider carrying a puffer."
Listen to the full interview with Prof Suphioğlu (in Turkish) on SBS Turkish here:
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