Calls for New Zealand to be better prepared for a thunderstorm asthma outbreak
Calls for New Zealand to be better prepared for a thunderstorm asthma outbreak
2 July 2022
Thunderstorm asthma is where asthma cases needing hospital care double, because of a thunderstorm.
It's caused by a thunderstorm in the summer that breaks pollen particles into pieces so small, they start to block peoples lungs -- even those who've never had asthma before.
Massey University's Carol Stewart says New Zealanders need to know about what to do -- now.
She says we need to develop health messages now, so health services aren't scrambling when a thunderstorm outbreak happens.
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