Allergies: watch out for pollen in the coming days, many departments face a high risk

Le risque d'allergie aux pollens de cyprès devrait augmenter progressivement au cours des prochains jours. Illustration Pixabay

Mauvaise nouvelle pour les allergiques, les pollens sont au rendez-vous en ce début de printemps. Un classique, certes, mais non moins à surveiller en cette période critique. Plusieurs départements sont déjà en alerte maximale. 

Take out your tissues, pollen is no exception this year and begins its attack a little more pronounced at the start of the month. 

"The pollens are out at the beginning of April thanks to spring weather, in particular those of birch which will be responsible for ;a high risk of allergy in many departments north of a Bordeaux-Grenoble line", warns the national aerobiological surveillance network (RNSA).

Birch and cypress

The map released this Tuesday April 2 in fact shows a France that is three quarters red, corresponding to the highest level of risk. Over a large northern half, it is birch pollen which constitutes the main risk. Since March 23, according to the national monitoring network, "the concentration of birch pollen in the air should be sufficient to cause a risk of allergy in allergic people in a large northern half of the country", indicates the press release.

In the south, it is cypress pollen which presents the most risks to date. "With favorable winds, generous sunshine, and remarkably mild temperatures sometimes exceeding 20 °C between the Pyrenees, Languedoc, and all around the Mediterranean, January records could be approached, or even exceeded ", warns the RNSA. 

For the moment, most of the exposed departments are at so-called “medium” risk, but the situation is likely to evolve. "The risk of allergy is already at the medium level and will quickly increase to reach the high level, persisting for several weeks. Be careful, cypress pollen is very allergenic.