Thunderstorm asthma: how seasonal weather can affect human health

At least four dead and others hospitalised due to weather event scientists broadly agree forces harmful allergens into air

Melbourne has suffered what appears to be the most lethal episode of thunderstorm asthma on record. With at least four deaths and more patients left in intensive care, the storm has served as a grim reminder that the seasonal weather occurrence can have tragic knock-on effects for human health. "This is an extraordinary event," said Prof Anthony Seaton, who has worked on thunderstorm asthma at the University of Aberdeen. "I don't know of any event as severe as this."

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