Tulsa Toddler With Medical Conditions Affected By Sahara Dust Cloud

The massive Saharan dust cloud reached Tulsa this Friday and Saturday after traveling halfway around the world.

The cloud of dust is 700 miles wider than the United States and late Saturday night, the Tulsa County air quality was determined to be at the “unhealthy” level.

Mariah Johnston said the dust is tough on her 2-year-old son Elliot who suffers from both pulmonary hypertension and a congenital heart defect.

They were already taking precautions for the pandemic, but now they must protect him from the abnormal amounts of dust in the air.

Elliot loves playing outside, and Mariah said with that being taken away, it's been hard.

"It definitely makes us feel a lot more secluded. Going outside was one way to get out of the apartment, so now that that's taken away, it's definitely affected our mental health a little bit,” Mariah said.