Allergy to pollens: 20 departments on red alert

France has suffered several storms in recent weeks. Episodes of strong winds, in particular storm Eunice, which, according to the latest pollen allergy bulletin from the National Aerobiological Surveillance Network (RNSA) of February 18, 2022, disseminated in the air the first pollens already present in the air.

20 departments have been put on red alert: Bas Rhin, Haute Saône, Territoire de Belfort, Vienne, Charente, Dordogne, Puy-de-Dôme, Loire, Ain, Pyrénées-Orientale, Aude, Tarne, Aveyron, Hérault, Gard, Ardèche , Drôme, Vaucluse, Bouches-Du-Rhône, Var, Alpes-Maritimes.

“In addition to the wind, temperatures will also rise in the coming days, especially in the south of France and will lead to high pollen concentrations.”warn the authors of the alert bulletin.

A few showers may reduce the risk of allergy, but watch out for the soon return of the sun which will accentuate the danger again.

What type of pollen are we dealing with?

Cypress pollen will be very present “around the Mediterranean” and in the rest of France it is mainly pollen from the “large Cupressaceae family” that will increase. For people allergic to alder and hazel pollen, the risk will be low, then low to medium for ash and poplar pollen. “Urticaceae pollens will be present mainly in the Var and the Alpes Maritimes with a low level risk of allergy.”

Protect yourself well

To limit the risk, there is nothing like prevention. The RNSA recalls the importance of following your treatments, of consulting your doctor in the event of symptoms. “Rinse your hair in the evening, ventilate at least 10 minutes a day before sunrise and after sunset, avoid drying clothes outside, keep car windows closed to prevent pollen from entering the air. passenger compartment, avoid sports activities outside which lead to overexposure to pollen.”