By Rania Spooner
The lives lost to the freak thunderstorm asthma outbreak in Melbourne has risen to nine with another death two months after the weather event.
The Department of Health on Wednesday released a statement advising the ninth person had died in connection to the November 21 storm, which saw 8500 Victorians suddenly in need of hospital care.
All other patients have since been discharged.
Fairfax Media understands the person died this week and had received specialist treatment in an intensive care unit before being moved to a ward.
On the high pollen count day in November hot winds carried grains across Melbourne followed by a sudden downpour that caused them to break into thousands of tiny allergen particles, which is believed to have triggered the unprecedented event.
Four of the nine people who died in last year's thunderstorm asthma epidemic: Hope Carnevali (left), Omar Moujalled, Apollo Papadopoulos, and Clarence Leo.
Health Minister Jill Hennessy later described the strain on emergency services as akin to if 150 bombs were simultaneously exploded. Paramedics received a call every 4.5 seconds in the 15 minutes from 7pm.
Some families have blamed their loss on delays in help arriving.
Among the others who died were law student Hope Carnevali, 20, and Omar Moujalled, 18, who was days away from graduating high school.
Noble Park father-of-two, Clarence Leo, and 35-year-old man, Apollo Papadopoulos, both died after suffering asthma attacks, also believed to be due to the weather event.
Father-of-four Sam Lau, 49, spent eight days in the Austin Hospital's ICU before passing away on November 29.
Asthma storm victim Sam Lau with wife Elsa.
Roxburgh Park man Ranjith Peiris,57 lost consciousness during the storm and died at the Northern Hospital about a week later.
Preliminary findings of a state-wide review into the disaster ordered by the Victorian Government are expected to be released before the end of the month.
Retired senior police Tim Cartwright was brought in to do an operational review into Ambulance Victoria's response.
The coroner is also investigating.
Ranjith Peiris.
"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," a Health Department spokesman said in a statement.
"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."