ROCKETING pollen counts and storms set to batter Britain might trigger deadly “thunder fever” for millions, experts warn. People who suffer from asthma and hay fever have been told rising temperatures and pollen counts could combine to make huge clouds of allergens in the coming days. The hot weather is expected to keep the pollen […]
ROCKETING pollen counts and storms set to batter Britain might trigger deadly “thunder fever” for millions, experts warn.
People who suffer from asthma and hay fever have been told rising temperatures and pollen counts could combine to make huge clouds of allergens in the coming days.
The hot weather is expected to keep the pollen count high at least until the end of June.
Airborne allergen expert Max Wiseberg told the Daily Star: “The sheer volume of rain we’ve experienced followed by sunshine is likely to create a potential grass pollen crisis in the UK.
“Sunny dry days could generate huge clouds of pollen exploding into the air triggering horrendous hay fever for the millions of Brits living with this debilitating condition.
“Thunderstorms, which are predicted next week, split the grains and make them more allergenic triggering a so-called thunder fever.”
Met Office boffins have even warned the storms will begin as soon as tomorrow while a “very high” level of pollen across England and a “moderate” level in Scotland are expected this weekend.
And they’re not alone in issuing warnings — the Asthma Society of Ireland (ASI) also spoke of the need for caution on Friday after research suggested up to 80 per cent of people with asthma were getting worsening symptoms because of allergies.
Dr Marcus Butler, medical director of the ASI, told the Irish Times: “Managing asthma becomes more difficult over the summer months as the nice weather brings a long and sharp increase in the pollen count.”
Grass-pollen is expected to spike after signs of an impending European heatwave has been clocked by meteorologists.
Colette Harris, head of health advice at Asthma UK, advised asthma sufferers to keep their inhalers with them at all times in case of life-threatening asthma attacks.
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