Thunderstorm asthma risk strikes Victoria
Parts of Victoria have been hit by the season's first whiff of potentially deadly thunderstorm asthma.
Warnings were issued across the state on Friday with western districts recording an increased pollen count and posing a high risk in combination with severe thunderstorms and strong winds.
A moderate risk of thunderstorm asthma remains in place across central - including Melbourne - and northern parts of the state.
"It is the first flagging of a high risk of the conditions that can cause epidemic thunderstorm asthma," Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton told reporters on Friday.
November is the peak period for the epidemic.
Ten people died during or soon after a thunderstorm asthma event in Melbourne on November 21, 2016.
"Looking back historically, they have all been November events when we have seen a surge in cases, even if it has not been formally recognised in the same way that 2016 was," Dr Sutton said.
Victorians who suffer asthma or are sensitive to hayfever have been told to stay indoors due to the high-risk epidemic thunderstorm asthma.
"There are people who have just hayfever, they're also at risk. The hayfever indicates their sensitivity and with the thunderstorm asthma event they have to be aware of any symptoms like daily cough," Dr Sutton said.
A combination of high pollen levels, strong winds, hot temperatures, air moisture and a cold front triggered this thunderstorm asthma.
The risk of thunderstorm asthma drops to moderate-to-low across the state from Saturday.
