A new centre has been set up to support allergy sufferers in Northern Ireland.
The new Allergy NI Support Centre in Antrim is the first of its kind in the UK and Ireland.
The centre was officially opened by the Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride who unveiled the plaque.
"I think what we are seeing is an increase in the number of people throughout the UK with allergy," said Dr McBride.
"There is greater awareness and that is a good thing and I think that certainly as a result of that we are allowed to need support centres such as this.
"It isn't just about the medical treatment and advice it is also about the support and counselling of individuals and families. That is just as important."
It is estimated that 40 per cent of children and a third of adults in Northern Ireland are suffering from various types of allergies.
The World Health Organisation has said that allergies are the number one environmental problem facing people living in cities.
Dr Trevor Brown is hopeful about finding a cure for those sufferers in the future.
"There is no cure for an individual food allergy at the moment but there is very encouraging research going on with regards to desensitizing children with peanut allergy or with cows milk allergy and in other countries egg allergy," said Dr Brown.
"Having listened to the research group which are leading this throughout the UK in Cambridge last week they would estimate that we are maybe 5 to 7 years away from seeing this as a service I can provide in my own local hospital, The Ulster Hospital.
"Hopefully within the next 5 or 10 years we will be offering a cure for them. We will need to be patient."
To contact Allergy NI, call 028 9446 1001, or email info@allergyni.co.uk
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