ONE in three Victorians opt to stay inside rather than brave the outdoors during hay fever season.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A statewide survey shows Victorians are more likely to stay locked away than Australians in any other state to spare themselves from the stuffy nose and itchy eyes the season brings.
Findings come one week out from pollen counting season, with Creswick once again to be a key catchment area for monitoring grass pollen forecasts, weather observations and data including wind changes, temperature, rainfall and grass coverage.
Creswick became one of five new pollen counting sites in the state last year as part of a state government response to better predict and prepare for epidemics like thunderstorm asthma. Monitoring runs from October 1 to the end of December.
A thunderstorm asthma outbreak occurs when storms pick up tiny allergenic pollen fragments, which penetrated deep into people’s lungs when conditions were dry and hot.
Pollen (55 per cent) and dust (42) are the two main hay fever triggers for Victorians, according to the Amcal Pharmacy survey.
The pollen count for Melbourne this week is high, with extreme conditions likely on Thursday with warmer conditions and a 30 per cent chance of rain.
Hay fever season is the time to ensure you: clean surfaces regularly, to avoid the accumulation of dust; wash your pets weekly; try to stay indoors on high pollen count days and avoid mowing lawns.
Victorian Health Department urges people who were most at risk of hay fever and asthma to make sure their conditions were under control by checking in with a pharmacist or their general practitioner.
Have you signed up to The Courier's variety of news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in Ballarat.