Breathe easy after asthma storm alert

FEARS Tasmania was at risk of its first asthma thunderstorm eased last night.

Health officials yesterday morning issued a statewide warning that the perfect brew of atmospheric conditions would descend on the state.

Thunderstorm asthma — caused by the combination of high pollen, thunderstorms, rain and strong winds — is extremely rare in Tasmania, but is a potentially fatal phenomenon.

The conditions increase the risk of severe asthma in people with seasonal hay fever or allergic asthma — and even people who have never had asthma before.

As thunderstorms hit the state yesterday, particularly the South East, they stirred up a large amount of pollen.

However, a Department of Health and Human Services spokesman said that as of last night there had been no in- crease in asthma incidents across Tasmania.

Specialist medical adviser Dr Fay Johnston, from the DHHS, said the moisture pulverised pollen and the high winds carried it around.

“Not [all thunderstorms] will have the high wind gusts to pick up all the pollen that’s around, [then] waft it up and concentrate it in particular areas,” she said.

Director of Public Health Dr Mark Veitch had warned asthma and hay fever sufferers to be aware of the storms as conditions were ideal for the rare weather condition.

“[But] it is uncommon for thunderstorms and high pollen counts to coincide in Tasmania because thunderstorms are less common here than on the mainland,” he said.

Last year 8500 people were hospitalised and nine died from asthma attacks after thunderstorms tore across Melbourne.

Dr Johnston, who heads up the Menzies Institute research team that developed the pollen warning app AirRater, said the Melbourne asthma thunderstorm was the worst on record globally.

Weather conditions across Greater Hobart were hot and sunny yesterday until the afternoon change. Hobart hit a high of 28C about 10.45am.

Showers are expected to continue today with a top of 16C, before it hats up again on Friday with a forecast of 24C.

Saturday and Sunday will reach 26C and 27C.

Picture: RICHARD JUPE GREAT OUTDOORS: Georgia Gillies, 15 and Kip Philips, 15, relax in Hobart’s Franklin Square and soak up the the fine weather after finishing one of their Year 10 exams.