Thunderstorm asthma outbreak of November 2016: a natural disaster requiring planning

Lung health in a changing world

“…It is less clear whether major storm events will exacerbate this problem, 4 but it will be amplified if population policies are adopted that lead to rural areas of northern Australia being developed 5 . Conditions associated with thunderstorm asthma — dry periods followed by storms — may become more frequent just as cities expand into previously rural areas 6 . The features of patients presenting to an emergency department during the November 2016 thunderstorm asthma event in Melbourne are explored in this issue of the Journal 7 …”

“…5 Conditions associated with thunderstorm asthmadry periods followed by stormsmay become more frequent just as cities expand into previously rural areas. 6 The features of patients presenting to an emergency department during the November 2016 thunderstorm asthma event in Melbourne are explored in this issue of the Journal. 7…”

Australian private emergency departments can assist ambulance services by taking public emergency patients during surge and disasters

“…A collaboration of private EDs and hospitals (Cabrini, St John of God Geelong, Epworth Geelong), Ambulance Victoria and the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) worked together to provide extra ED and hospital bed capacity. Public ambulance patients were taken to private EDs during the thunderstorm asthma disaster event of 2016 and again as the influenza epidemic burden increased during the winter of 2017. A Victorian DHHS policy is now a part of the state health emergency response plan, facilitating use of specific private EDs for public patients during periods of peak demand in the future…”

Severe asthma: implementing game‐changing science

“…Asthma is very common in Australia, and the at‐risk population is massive, as the recent Melbourne thunderstorm asthma epidemic has shown 2 . Numerically, severe asthma represents only a small part of asthma, perhaps between 1% and 3% of all people with asthma.…”

“…1 Asthma is very common in Australia, and the at-risk population is massive, as the recent Melbourne thunderstorm asthma epidemic has shown. 2 Numerically, severe asthma represents only a small part of asthma, perhaps between 1% and 3% of all people with asthma. But its impact is great, causing a significant quality of life and economic burden to people with the disease and to our community.…”