(CNN) — Georgia officials at U.S, warned this weekend about possible health problems related to the Sahara dust cloud that hangs over the state.
The Georgia Department of Public Health said Saturday that the dust cloud is expected to remain for the next few days and that people, especially those with chronic lung conditions, should protect themselves.
The dust column originated in Africa earlier this year, when a combination of climatic factors led to storm-raised dust in central and western Africa to form a dense column, which was pushed approximately 8,000 kilometers into the Americas.
It’s normal for dust from the Sahara to hit the United States every hurricane season, but this year’s cloud is historic, forecasters said. Georgia health officials say the dust is the densest in 50 to 60 years.
Dust-related air quality alerts are published in parts of the Ohio River Valley, the Mid-Atlantic and the Southeast, CNN forecasters said Sunday.
The dust can cause irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat, and people with allergies or asthma may experience trouble breathing.
Georgia health officials urged residents to limit the time they spend outdoors if it is dusty or foggy outside. When indoors, residents should keep windows and doors closed and operate their air conditioner with the fresh air intake closed.
Georgia citizens should also wear a face mask outdoors to keep dust particles out of the nose and mouth and to help prevent the spread of covid-19, health officials said.
Another round of Saharan dust is expected to impact areas of Texas and the Louisiana gulf coast by midweek, CNN forecasters said, but it won’t be as dense as the column currently affecting the southeast.
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