The death toll from Australia’s “thunderstorm asthma” episode has left six people dead and three more in critical condition. The thunderstorm coincided with a large pollen count, sending nearly 8,500 patients to hospital emergency rooms. The storm, which affected the country's state of Victoria, triggered respiratory problems for those with asthma. This phenomena occurs when rye grass pollen gets wet, breaks into smaller pieces, and enters people’s lungs, creating difficulties breathing.
