The Community of Madrid has reached a historic record of notifications about pollen, with 5,073,354 alerts during the 2026 campaign, a 25.6% increase compared to last year. The service, managed by the Ministry of Health, now has over 43,000 subscribers.
The Pollen Network of the Community of Madrid (Palinocam) has concluded the 2026 campaign with more than five million notifications to citizens regarding pollen levels in the atmosphere. Specifically, there have been 5,073,354 alerts, which represents a 25.6% increase compared to the 4,036,250 from the previous year. The service, promoted by the General Directorate of Public Health, operated from January 15 to June 30.
Over 43,000 subscribers and 82 days with high or medium levels
The campaign had 43,000 subscribers, compared to 38,000 in 2025. Thanks to these alerts, allergy sufferers in Madrid have been able to anticipate pollen peaks. In fact, the Community has reported 82 days with high or medium pollen levels in the first half of the year, 70 more than last year. This increase in alerts is due to an especially intense spring in terms of pollination, according to sources from the Ministry of Health.
The service not only benefits patients but also facilitates the work of allergists in the region, who can adjust treatments and recommendations based on real-time data. For the second consecutive year, the information has been integrated into the Virtual Health Card (TSV), allowing users to select pollen types and geographical areas of interest, as well as set up personalised alerts.
Daily updates and 48-hour forecast
During the campaign, the regional government has updated Monday to Friday the data from the previous day and included forecasts of expected values for the next 48 hours. This information has been segmented by geographical areas, allowing residents of each municipality to know the specific risk in their area. The most allergenic pollen types monitored are cypress, plane trees, plantains, grasses, and olive trees.
For the next six months, the Palinocam information will be updated on Tuesdays on the institutional portal about Pollen and Health, where weekly bulletins and a map with the latest records from each monitoring station can also be consulted. Additionally, the regional website on Fungal Spores provides data on the species Alternaria, another common allergen in the region.
A unique network in Spain with manual analysis
The Palinocam Network is the only monitoring system in Spain that offers free notifications via SMS or email during the pollination period. Studies are conducted 365 days a year based on samples from aerobiological monitoring stations located in various municipalities in Madrid. These stations have volumetric collectors that gather air from the surroundings. Pollen grains are deposited on an adhesive surface, collected manually, and analysed in the laboratory using an optical microscope.
The network collaborates with local councils, an allergy clinic in the capital, and the technical-scientific direction of the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM). In total, up to 25 different types of particles are analysed, although predictions focus on the five most allergenic. For allergy sufferers in Madrid, this service provides relief in their daily lives: knowing whether to wear a mask or avoid certain areas early in the morning. And, given the record number of alerts, it seems that more and more citizens are taking it into account.
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