Last week of November 2016 an unusual weather condition has created severe problems with the lungs of so many Melburnians. Thousands of people rushed to hospitals; 8 of them died.
SBS Turkish has interviewed the Deakin environmental allergist Associate Professor Cenk Suphioglu who discovered the link between rye grass and thunderstorm related asthma epidemics. He has explained the phenomenon, ‘Thunderstorm Asthma’ which caused 8 people’s death in Melbourne last November.
Associate Professor Cenk Suphioglu said that ‘Thunderstorm Asthma’ is an allergic reaction to grass pollen and you don’t have to be asthmatic to get it. He says “Thunderstorm Asthma’ is a condition brought on when storms play havoc with pollen. It affects people who don’t normally suffer from asthma or respiratory problems. 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. Studies have shown that more than 95 per cent of thunderstorm asthmatics are allergic to pollen and rye grass pollen. Recently, we have 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 Suphioglu says, “the thunderstorm asthma epidemic is not new. Melbourne is both the allergy and thunderstorm capital of Australia. November is the peak month for ‘Thunderstorm Asthma’. I believe that hay fever sufferers should consider carrying a puffer.”
