Australian Asthma Storm Claims Sixth Victim

A sixth person has died in the Australian city of Melbourne after a storm triggered thousands of pollen allergy asthma attacks, the Victorian state government said on Sunday. Heavy rain and winds earlier, just as spring peaks in the southern state of Victoria, allowed rye grass pollen to absorb moisture and burst into smaller particles that sent the pollen count soaring, Reuters reported.

“This was a tragic and unforeseen event and hospitals are continuing to treat 12 people for a variety of respiratory and other related conditions, in addition to those in ICU care,” a Victorian health department spokesman said in a statement.

Hospitals have treated more than 8,500 patients, according to the department.