It has been known for many years that thunderstorms can trigger asthma attacks in susceptible
individuals and is thought to be due to the atmospheric conditions causing rupture of pollen particles which then are inhaled further into the lungs. Before last week the worst incident was in London in 1994 when over 600 people attended emergency departments, however the events in Victoria have eclipsed this with 8 deaths and 8500 hospital admissions. This is a terrible reminder of how serious a disease asthma can be and how important it is for sufferers to have a robust asthma management plan particularly during the pollen season if storms are forecast.