Latest news with #Telford
San Francisco Chronicle
23 minutes ago
- Health
- San Francisco Chronicle
How to protect yourself from ticks year-round
WASHINGTON (AP) — Ticks can be active in any season and it's important to check for and remove the bloodsuckers as quickly as possible — especially after you've been outside hiking, gardening or enjoying nature. 'Humans are outside more in summer so we hear about more tick infections,' said Sam Telford, an infectious diseases expert at Tufts University. But he urges caution year-round because 'every season is tick season.' While tick populations vary a lot regionally, some Northeastern states including Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island are seeing 'above average' numbers of American dog ticks this year, said Telford. And New York state is seeing a higher number of reported deer tick bites this year than last year, said Saravanan Thangamani, who studies tick-borne diseases at SUNY Upstate Medical University. How ticks can spread disease Ticks, like mosquitos, need to feed on blood. But instead of a quick prick, they are slow feeders – with hooked mouth parts that attach into the skin of deer, rabbits, dogs and people. There are many different species of ticks found globally and only some spread germs that can make people sick. A main worry is blacklegged ticks, also called deer ticks, which can spread Lyme disease. Once found mainly in New England and pockets of the Midwest, the ticks are now present over a wider range. A tick bite doesn't always lead to illness. 'If you remove a tick within 24 hours of attachment, it's fairly unlikely that you will get infected,' said Telford. How to check for ticks Ticks are usually found low to the ground, in leaf litter or grassy areas. Check your clothing for ticks and do a full-body check including under the arms and behind ears, knees and hair. 'If you're out all day long, try to do a quick check for ticks every few hours,' said Bobbi Pritt at the Mayo Clinic. 'When you go back inside, take a shower. That will wash off any unattached ticks, and you're also more likely to spot any other ticks." Use tweezers to remove the tick and grasp it as close to the skin as possible to pull from the head. If you don't have them handy, you can also use your fingernails, the edge of a credit card or any semi-sharp object. How to keep ticks away The best approach is to minimize tick exposure altogether. Bug sprays containing ingredients such as DEET can be sprayed on exposed skin to ward off ticks and mosquitos, said Telford. Wear long sleeves and pants, and you can also spray clothing with repellents containing permethrin, a chemical similar to a natural ingredient in chrysanthemums that makes ticks avoid the flowers. Protect your pets from ticks Don't forget to pay attention to outdoor pets. Medications can prevent fleas and ticks from attaching to a dog's skin. But it's still a good idea to check the fur after being outside. 'Wherever pets can't easily groom themselves, that's where the ticks will be – on the ears, around the muzzle area, under the collar, between the toes,' said Thangamani. Dogs and cats roaming outdoors can also bring ticks into the house. 'If pets bring ticks in, a tick can live in the house for months until it finds its next blood meal,' which could be another household member, he said. What to do after a tick bite After removing the tick, keep an eye on the skin around the bite. If a rash or flu-like symptoms appear within several days or weeks, see a doctor. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Winnipeg Free Press
31 minutes ago
- Health
- Winnipeg Free Press
How to protect yourself from ticks year-round
WASHINGTON (AP) — Ticks can be active in any season and it's important to check for and remove the bloodsuckers as quickly as possible — especially after you've been outside hiking, gardening or enjoying nature. 'Humans are outside more in summer so we hear about more tick infections,' said Sam Telford, an infectious diseases expert at Tufts University. But he urges caution year-round because 'every season is tick season.' While tick populations vary a lot regionally, some Northeastern states including Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island are seeing 'above average' numbers of American dog ticks this year, said Telford. And New York state is seeing a higher number of reported deer tick bites this year than last year, said Saravanan Thangamani, who studies tick-borne diseases at SUNY Upstate Medical University. How ticks can spread disease Ticks, like mosquitos, need to feed on blood. But instead of a quick prick, they are slow feeders – with hooked mouth parts that attach into the skin of deer, rabbits, dogs and people. There are many different species of ticks found globally and only some spread germs that can make people sick. A main worry is blacklegged ticks, also called deer ticks, which can spread Lyme disease. Once found mainly in New England and pockets of the Midwest, the ticks are now present over a wider range. A tick bite doesn't always lead to illness. 'If you remove a tick within 24 hours of attachment, it's fairly unlikely that you will get infected,' said Telford. How to check for ticks Ticks are usually found low to the ground, in leaf litter or grassy areas. Check your clothing for ticks and do a full-body check including under the arms and behind ears, knees and hair. 'If you're out all day long, try to do a quick check for ticks every few hours,' said Bobbi Pritt at the Mayo Clinic. 'When you go back inside, take a shower. That will wash off any unattached ticks, and you're also more likely to spot any other ticks.' Use tweezers to remove the tick and grasp it as close to the skin as possible to pull from the head. If you don't have them handy, you can also use your fingernails, the edge of a credit card or any semi-sharp object. How to keep ticks away The best approach is to minimize tick exposure altogether. Bug sprays containing ingredients such as DEET can be sprayed on exposed skin to ward off ticks and mosquitos, said Telford. Wear long sleeves and pants, and you can also spray clothing with repellents containing permethrin, a chemical similar to a natural ingredient in chrysanthemums that makes ticks avoid the flowers. Protect your pets from ticks Don't forget to pay attention to outdoor pets. Medications can prevent fleas and ticks from attaching to a dog's skin. But it's still a good idea to check the fur after being outside. 'Wherever pets can't easily groom themselves, that's where the ticks will be – on the ears, around the muzzle area, under the collar, between the toes,' said Thangamani. Dogs and cats roaming outdoors can also bring ticks into the house. 'If pets bring ticks in, a tick can live in the house for months until it finds its next blood meal,' which could be another household member, he said. Wednesdays Columnist Jen Zoratti looks at what's next in arts, life and pop culture. What to do after a tick bite After removing the tick, keep an eye on the skin around the bite. If a rash or flu-like symptoms appear within several days or weeks, see a doctor. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not recommend tick testing because results may not be reliable. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
BBC News
a day ago
- Business
- BBC News
Telford and Wrekin Council's housing firm sees profits rise by 18%
A council-owned housing company has seen its profits rise by 18% in the last profits allowed Labour-run Telford and Wrekin Council to put an extra £302,000 into its budget, a meeting was Nuplace was formed in 2015 the council has built 608 homes, with a further 276 planned or in councillor Rachael Tyrrell said she was supportive of the provision of homes, but added: "The rental yield is well below par." She pointed out the council had spent £93m on the company over the last 10 Overton, the Labour councillor responsible for housing, said creating Nuplace in 2015 had been a "bold decision".It was done, he said, to "try to improve the private rented market and offer a good quality tenure," but it had also provided a dividend for the council, its sole councillor Nathan England said the council also benefited from more people living in local homes and paying council tax. This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin agrees three-year plan to cut £260m
An NHS trust has agreed a three-year plan to cut up to £260m from its budget and break the plan, NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin aims to make total 'efficiencies' of £95.5m this year, £80.6m in 2026/27 and £84.5m in 2027/ includes cutting £30m from the £312m project to reorganise services between Shrewsbury and Telford, and also cutting £37.5m from urgent and emergency is a target of saving a further £20m from "non-clinical" back office roles, replacing agency, reducing vacancies, sickness, turnover and unavailability. Speaking at a board meeting on Wednesday, chief finance officer Claire Skidmore said: "We have to return to a stable financial position."But she said the health system had "made great strides" recently and added: "We have a much clearer view of what has been driving our deficit and also what we can do to address that."Her report looked at ways of reducing the need for hospital treatment, including more care at home or in the community. This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Marks & Spencer to close 100-year-old flagship department store after ‘never recovering from Covid'
Staff have been informed of their fates CLOSING TIME Marks & Spencer to close 100-year-old flagship department store after 'never recovering from Covid' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MARKS & Spencer will close their flagship department store after almost a century in business. The store has been performing "less well for a long period of time." Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 The store has "never fully recovered" since the pandemic Credit: Getty Marks & Spencer have confirmed that it will be closing its flagship store in Wolverhampton after nearly 100 years. The store on Dudley Street has been open since 1929. The store reportedly "never fully recovered" from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to M&S chiefs. Staff working at the shop were reportedly informed of the closure in a meeting. A consultation with the affected workers is set to get underway in the near future. Calum Telford, regional manager at M&S, has explained the reasons behind the closure: "Our UK-wide store rotation programme is all about reshaping for growth and making sure every M&S store delivers the best possible shopping experience for our customers. "That's why we have made the tough decision to propose the closure of our Dudley Street store. "Sadly, the store has been performing less well for a long period of time and has never fully recovered from the Covid pandemic. "We remain committed to Wolverhampton and are working closely with the city council to find a suitable alternative food location." This will happen alongside modernising works to the Merry Hill M&S branch. Shoppers run for summer's 'wow factor' denim jacket in M&S, it's set to go viral Telford added: "I appreciate this will be disappointing news for customers who have shopped with us at the store over the years and I would like to thank them for their support. "Our priority is continuing conversations with colleagues about what this announcement means for them and if the proposals go ahead, we will offer them alternative roles at M&S wherever possible." Three years ago, M&S announced it would be changing its business model. It said it intended to reduce its number of traditional department stores offering clothing, food and home products from 247 to 180, while also opening 100 new, single-function food halls by April 2026. Company Chairman Archie Norman said last month that the company was seeking to exit "struggling town centres." This came as part of a £500 million plan to update its portfolio of retail stores. The lease of the Dudley Street property had been due to expire in 2027, with Wolverhampton Council seeking talks with M&S. In response to the store's closure, Councillor Chris Burden, Wolverhampton Council's cabinet member for city development, jobs and skills, said: "We're obviously disappointed by the news but fully understand M&S's difficult decision was driven by wider, changing market conditions and customer behaviour. 'We're grateful to M&S officials for the opportunity to meet with them yesterday (Tuesday) and their commitment to work with us to support staff affected. "We were also extremely heartened to hear about their continued commitment to our city. The council have pledged to work with M&S to identify suitable locations that fit their new business model. 'In the meantime, we know how unsettling this will be for staff and the city council's Wolves at Work employment support team is poised to join forces with DWP and a range of city partners to support workers and their families," Burden said. 'We're also keen to see the privately-owned Dudley Street site brought back into use quickly – if the proposed closure goes ahead. "It's a prime 90,000 sq ft location in the city centre and we have already reached out to the building's agent to seek a meeting with the new owner."
