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Vic asthma storms claims six lives

Six people have now died following last week's thunderstorm asthma event that overwhelmed Melbourne's ambulance services and hospitals.

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Source: AAP


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WHAT IS THUNDERSTORM ASTHMA?

* An epidemic of asthma symptoms during or immediately following a thunderstorm

WHAT CAUSED MONDAY'S EVENT?

* Pollen blew into Melbourne during the blustery day from the state's northern pastures

* Pollen grains absorbed moisture during the evening thunderstorms and then burst into hundreds of tiny allergenic fragments

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* Those tiny fragments are small enough to penetrate deep into the airways causing asthma

WHO DIED?

* Hope Carnevali, 20

* father-of-two Clarence Leo

* Omar Moujalled, 18

* Apollo Papadopoulos, 35

* A woman who died at Northern Hospital on Friday night

* A person who died at an Eastern Health hospital on Saturday night.


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