Europe 1 / Photo credit: ANGELIKA WARMUTH / DPA / DPA PICTURE-ALLIANCE VIA AFP 12:25 p.m., February 19, 2024

More than three quarters of French territory have gone into "high allergy risk" due to the rather mild temperatures which have been observed throughout the country in recent days, warned the National Aerobiological Surveillance Network (RNSA) this Friday. Europe 1 gives you five tips to deal with it.

A difficult week for those allergic to pollen? The National Aerobiological Surveillance Network (RNSA) gave the alert for more than 70 French departments this Friday for several pollens, in particular those of the Betulaceae family such as alder. Favored by the wind, the sun and the great mildness of mid-February, impressive clouds of pollen of this type of pollen could be observed throughout the territory.

A difficult day for allergy sufferers with particularly high concentrations across the country due to the mild and sunny weather!


Particularly for alder pollen (Betulaceae family) in full bloom! https://t.co/k4Ygjf9UTP


Courage to allergy sufferers! pic.twitter.com/m9JGU3La1x

— National Aerobiological Surveillance Network (@rnsa_pollen) February 17, 2024

The red alert therefore concerns alder, but also pollens from Cupressaceae - such as cypress - and ash trees from the southwest to the southeast, as well as hazel pollens in the rest of the country. Mimosas, in flower in the South, can also cause local allergies. Allergy sufferers must therefore be extra vigilant, even if the rains this weekend allowed in certain places to "place the pollen on the ground", thus reducing the risk, specifies the RNSA.

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The right actions to adopt

Among the good actions to adopt to prevent an allergic attack, also called "allergic rhinitis", the RNSA recalls the importance of rinsing your hair in the evening before going to sleep or of ventilating the rooms of the home at least ten minutes a day, preferably before sunrise and after sunset. When traveling by car, you should also keep the windows closed to prevent allergens from entering. Then, if possible, avoid drying your laundry outside because all the pollen will lodge there.

According to the WHO, in 2050, almost one in two people on the planet will have at least one allergic disease, whatever it may be. For those most at risk, we should not hesitate either to take antihistamine medications if necessary.