Pollen: 30 departments in the southwest and southeast placed on a red alert

Thirty departments of the Southwest and South-East were placed on a red alert in the face of pollen allergies, due to the softness of the temperatures which favored the flowering of trees, according to the latest data from the national aerobiological surveillance network (RNSA ) Up to date on Monday, February 17.

Red are classified from the departments ranging from Vendée, Deux-Sèvres and Vienne to all the departments of the Pyrenees as well as those of the Mediterranean Arc and Corsica, according to the latest network of the network.

All the other departments of Metropolitan France are classified in yellow, with notable allergic risks.

The RNSA warns against the pollens of “Cypress, thuyas, juniper” with a “Risk of high level allergy” as well as “Frêne pollens” presenting a “Middle allergy risk”.

“The hazelnuts and alders are also in full bloom throughout the country with a risk of medium level allergy but which will go up quickly in the days to come”specifies the RNSA.

In the south, the « mimosas » are also sources of“Possible local allergies”.

“Explosive cocktail”

“The departments around the Mediterranean were already placed in high risk from the end of January but the high temperatures (20 degrees in the southwest this weekend) and the wind formed an explosive cocktail for the flowering of these trees and the dispersion in the air of pollen “explains Samuel Monnier, engineer within the RNSA.

“We observe a precocity of flowering due to very soft winters in recent years, but 2025, however, is not the earliest year. Last year, we already had 70 departments on red alert on this date “he assures.

The next bulletin expected on Wednesday should “Certainly place other departments of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, the Grand Est and the Ile de France” On red alert, he said.

Almost one in three adults out of three and 20 % of children over the age of 9 would suffer from seasonal rhinitis caused by an allergy to Pollens, better known by the name of “Hay colds”according to the National Health Safety Agency (ANSES).

RNSA advocates “Rinse hair in the evening”of “Dry the laundry inside the dwellings”d’“Ventilate early in the morning or late at night” and “Close the windows of the cars while driving” To limit the allergic risk accentuated by climate change and air pollution, according to handles.