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Objectives <p>One current function of the Public Health Unit (PHU) of the Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) of NSW is to advise and alert medical service providers and the public of the risk of thunderstorm asthma events during the annual high-risk period. This paper outlines the approach used and the data collected with the aim of informing others to promote similar PHU programs and, hence, improve patient outcomes.</p> Methods <p>Pollen data are collected using Burkard pollen traps, and are then collated with weather predictions by the Thunderstorm Asthma Collaborative of health professionals to form the basis of the current thunderstorm asthma risk status. If alert criteria are met, a cascade of public health notifications is triggered. The information is distributed directly to MLHD hospital emergency departments and community health centres as well as through several avenues to the community across the Murrumbidgee region. An opt-in public notification system has been created that automatically generates multi-modal (web, email, and SMS) electronic notifications.</p> Results <p>During the 2021 thunderstorm asthma season, medical record data were collected from 32 public health facilities across the MLHD and Albury, with a total of 302 asthma presentations during the reporting period. Pollen counts were available for 90% of reporting days and were classified from ‘low’ to ‘exceedingly high’. Thunderstorm activity data and alerts for the reporting period were recorded. Three thunderstorm asthma alerts were triggered in weeks 1, 6, and 9 of the 10-week period, with the week 6 alert associated with the highest number of hospital emergency department presentations. At the time, 3437 individuals were registered for the notification system, and the three public health alerts were sent to all registered individuals.</p> Conclusion <p>This collaborative approach to amalgamating data collection, interpretation, and information distribution allows for timely public health notifications and improved health service preparedness.</p>

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Alerting residents and health services to thunderstorm-induced asthma: district-level insights on pollen counts and their impact on health services

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年6月13日

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  • Saifur Rahman,
  • Michael Davoren,
  • Md Anisur Rahman,
  • Bruce Graham,
  • Robyn Paton,
  • Alison Nikitas

摘要

Objectives

One current function of the Public Health Unit (PHU) of the Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) of NSW is to advise and alert medical service providers and the public of the risk of thunderstorm asthma events during the annual high-risk period. This paper outlines the approach used and the data collected with the aim of informing others to promote similar PHU programs and, hence, improve patient outcomes.

Methods

Pollen data are collected using Burkard pollen traps, and are then collated with weather predictions by the Thunderstorm Asthma Collaborative of health professionals to form the basis of the current thunderstorm asthma risk status. If alert criteria are met, a cascade of public health notifications is triggered. The information is distributed directly to MLHD hospital emergency departments and community health centres as well as through several avenues to the community across the Murrumbidgee region. An opt-in public notification system has been created that automatically generates multi-modal (web, email, and SMS) electronic notifications.

Results

During the 2021 thunderstorm asthma season, medical record data were collected from 32 public health facilities across the MLHD and Albury, with a total of 302 asthma presentations during the reporting period. Pollen counts were available for 90% of reporting days and were classified from ‘low’ to ‘exceedingly high’. Thunderstorm activity data and alerts for the reporting period were recorded. Three thunderstorm asthma alerts were triggered in weeks 1, 6, and 9 of the 10-week period, with the week 6 alert associated with the highest number of hospital emergency department presentations. At the time, 3437 individuals were registered for the notification system, and the three public health alerts were sent to all registered individuals.

Conclusion

This collaborative approach to amalgamating data collection, interpretation, and information distribution allows for timely public health notifications and improved health service preparedness.