Virginia Beach, Little Rock, Greenville, New Orleans, Greensboro Among Worst U.S. Cities for Allergies

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) has released its annual report ranking U.S. cities by their severity of pollen allergies, with Wichita, Kansas, retaining the top spot for the third consecutive year. Virginia Beach is noted as the second-most challenging city in Virginia, while Little Rock and Greenville are ranked sixth and ninth, respectively, in the nation for allergy sufferers. The report highlights the impact of climate change on pollen seasons, leading to increased pollen counts and longer allergy seasons, particularly in southern and eastern regions. New Orleans made a significant leap to second place due to higher weed pollen counts exacerbated by climate conditions following Hurricane Francine. Experts emphasize the importance of preparing for allergy season by monitoring pollen counts and managing exposure to allergens. The AAFA's findings underline the growing public health concern as allergies now affect over 100 million people in the U.S.