Ninth person dies two months after 'freak' Australian storm event

A ninth person has died after a freak thunderstorm asthma' event which hit Victoria in November.

Approximately 8500 people flooded into the state's hospital in need of assistance after a sudden weather change on November 21 as a cool change and thunderstorms swept across Melbourne.

The sudden change in weather conditions meant that rain was being absorbed by rye grain pollens which then burst into microscopic pollen which was swept away by fierce winds.

The smaller particles easily get into the human body through the nose and enter small bronchial tubes in the lungs and cause an allergic reaction and difficulty breathing.

Regular-sized pollen particles usually cannot get into the lung because they are too big to get through the nose.

Eight people died in the week after the event, with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) saying one person remained in a critical condition at that time.

A release from the DHHS issued on Thursday confirmed that a ninth person had died as a result of the event.

The release added that no more patients remain in hospital after the event and said that with the pollen season in Victoria now over it was not expecting anymore thunderstorm asthma events.

"The pollen season is now over in Victoria for this season and we do not expect to see thunderstorm activity triggering asthma or similar respiratory problems," the statement said.

"However, asthmatics should continue to take medication as usual, to seek help as required from their GP or a health professional.

"In the case of an acute asthma attack, as always, an ambulance may be needed."

In the wake of the storm, the Victorian Government announced a review into the state's public health system's response to the cases. Endit