Pollen: Allergy risk is highest in 60 areas.

Allergy sufferers should prepare for this Easter weekend. This Friday, the National Network for Aerobiological Surveillance (RNSA) placed sixty departments in the eastern half of the country on a “high” health impact due to the spread of pollen.

“Spring has come and birch pollen is flying through the air like Easter eggs! They will harass allergy sufferers in the large northeastern quarter of the country at high risk. The risk of birch pollen allergy in the rest of the country will be low to medium,” writes RNSA in its Bulletin of the Day.

Birch pollen will noticeably affect parts of Normandy, Hauts-de-France, Ile-de-France, Grand Est and Burgundy.

Risks in the rest of the country

“In the south of the country, a mixture of pollen from Cupressaceae-Taxaceae (cypress…), sycamore, oak and parietaceae (Urticaceae) can raise the risk of global allergies to high levels during spring days,” the bulletin says. We are talking about part of the regions of Center-Val-de-Loire, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, Occitania and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur.

In the rest of the country, sycamore pollen could also pose risks that will remain moderate, warns the RNSA. “Willow, poplar, oak and grass pollen are present from west to east with low to moderate risk of allergy,” the bulletin added.

To limit the damage, the association advises allergy sufferers to rinse their hair in the evening, air their homes at least 10 times a day before sunrise and after sunset, avoid drying clothes outside, keep car windows closed and avoid sports. activity outside. The RNSA also warns of air pollution, which in large cities can “exacerbate pollen allergies.”