Sneezing, sore throat, red eyes… several departments of Occitanie on red alert for pollen allergies

Éternuements et maux de gorge dus aux pollens sont en avance cette année. ILLUSTRATION PIXABAY – CENCZI

The departments of Hérault, Gard, Aude and Pyrénées-Orientales are on red alert on the pollen allergy risk map.

Spring is not yet here, but pollen allergies are already starting to take hold on French territory, and particularly in the Occitanie region. 

Nine departments on red alert

On the map shared by the National Aerobiological Surveillance Network (RNSA), nine departments are placed on red pollen alert, including Hérault, Gard, l&#39 ;Aude and the Pyrénées-Orientales for Cupressaceae pollen (cypress families). The latter have a strong allergenic potential and can cause numerous ocular, nasal and even respiratory discomfort.

https://t.co/o8EYS14vpH

— Réseau National de Surveillance Aérobiologique (@rnsa_pollen) February 12, 2024

To these departments of Occitanie are added those of Vaucluse, Bouches-du-Rhône, Var and Alpes-Maritimes, all around the Mediterranean coast, as well as the department of Bas-Rhin, mainly concerned by hazel and alder pollen.

Emissions favored by the sun and wind

The ash trees are also in full bloom, releasing their allergenic pollens with a low to medium level allergy risk, or even locally high as in Narbonnais. Note, the & ;nbsp;mimosas in flower in the south can also cause proximity allergies

The mildness, the sun and the wind this week will encourage the emission and dispersion of pollen in the air, specifies the RNSA. L&# The association regularly updates its map to monitor the evolution of the risk depending on the presence of pollen from irritating species.

The actions to adopt 

To avoid being in too much contact with allergenic substances, the High Council of Public Health recommends ventilating homes, avoiding outdoor activities or limiting other substances irritating or allergenic.