Met Office warns of ‘thunder fever’ as wind spreads pollen

GIVEN that summer is the bane of a hayfever sufferer’s life, one might imagine bad weather would be a relief.

However, the storms lashing Britain this week are expected to worsen, not soothe, hayfever and asthma.

Hayfever affects one in four Britons and is usually at its worst from late March to September. It is an allergic reaction to pollen, causing sneezing, coughing, runny nose and itchy eyes.

The Met Office is collaborating with academic institutions to find out if bad weather can intensify these symptoms.

There appear to be spikes in the number of people suffering with asthma-like symptoms during storms, when a high pollen count is reported.

It is thought that wind whips pollen and spores into the air, making particles more likely to enter respiratory passages and triggering “thunder fever”.

Graham Madge, a Met Office spokesman, said: “It seems that there is an effect that seemingly splits the pollen grains. There’s been suggestions that that effect could be lightning, and I’ve also seen suggestions that it could be associated with high humidity.

“It seems to affect pollen in the air in a way that has a multiplier effect, so that sufferers get increased exposure.”

Max Wiseberg, an airborne allergens expert, said humidity halves the particles, doubling the number in the air.

These pollen grains, he said, are much smaller and might exacerbate asthma because “they can actually get deeper into your lungs”.