Latest news with #Nott
Wales Online
5 days ago
- Sport
- Wales Online
Cardiff announce signing of Wales-qualified giant from rivals
Cardiff announce signing of Wales-qualified giant from rivals Cardiff have moved to strengthen their forward pack George Nott in action for the Dragons (Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency ) Cardiff have confirmed the signing of former England U20s World Cup winner George Nott from the Dragons. The athletic second-row joins the Blue & Blacks following three seasons at the Dragons, where he has made 41 appearances. Standing at 6ft 6in and tipping the scales over 18 stone, Nott brings size and physicality, while being renowned for his technical ability at the lineout and soft skills. 'I'm really looking forward to linking up with Cardiff," said Nott. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. "I feel like we have a genuine chance to compete for trophies and I'm excited to be in a professional environment. 'From speaking to both current and past players, I have heard nothing but good things about the environment, they have all been enthusiastic about how much they enjoy it. Article continues below 'I've also always found the Arms Park a really difficult place to play as there is such a good atmosphere, so I'm really looking forward to being on the home side and benefiting from the home fans' support.' Nott was born in Bodelwyddan and raised in North Wales, before progressing through the Sale Sharks academy. He made his first team debut for the Sharks in 2017, and spent five years in the North East before switching to London Irish. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free The 29-year-old worked closely with Cardiff forwards coach Corniel van Zyl at London Irish and will now compete with Ben Donnell, Josh McNally, Rory Thornton and Teddy Williams. 'We are delighted to be able to secure the services of George," said Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt. "He comes with a really good reputation as a very good operator on and off the field. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. Article continues below 'He has an excellent relationship with Corniel from his days at London Irish and has a very good work ethic. We are delighted to have him at The Arms Park.'
Wales Online
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Cardiff set to sign Welsh-qualified star from rivals
Cardiff set to sign Welsh-qualified star from rivals The 29-year-old has made 41 appearances for the Dragons since signing in 2022 George Nott goes up to take a lineout for the Dragons (Image: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency ) Cardiff are set to sign Welsh-qualified second-row George Nott from rivals Dragons and end the spate of players heading down the M4 from the Welsh capital to Newport. The 29-year-old has spent the last three seasons at Rodney Parade, having joined the Gwent side from London Irish in 2022. In his time at the Dragons, Nott has made 41 appearances for the club - being a big part in the Dragons having statistically the best lineout in the United Rugby Championship during his debut season. Prior to joining the Dragons, the Welsh-born lock turned out for Sale and London Irish in the Premiership, while he was also a part of the team of the tournament after helping England U20s win the 2017 U20s World Championship. Article continues below In moving from Newport to Cardiff, Nott will buck the recent trend - with the Dragons set to sign Seb Davies, Thomas Young and Tinus de Beer from the capital club. Former Cardiff tighthead Dillon Lewis is also heading to Newport from Harleqiuns ahead of next season. Having made 18 appearances last season, minutes have been a little harder to come by for Nott this season - with Filo Tiatia having already moved to bolster his second-row stocks for next season. Cardiff and Wales second-row Davies is set to head in the opposite direction to Nott, while the club also announced the signing of Welsh-qualified lock Levi Douglas from French side Biarritz Olympique this week. Matt Sherratt's side are also in need of depth in the second-row, with Davies leaving after a decade with the Arms Park club. The club did announce a new deal for Josh McNally, after an impressive debut season in Cardiff, while they also have Teddy Williams, Ben Donnell and Rory Thornton on the books. In January, they announced a senior academy deal for Wales U20s second-row Tom Cottle. Wales back-row Mackenzie Martin, who has yet to start a match this season amid interest from the Dragons, can also play in the second-row - having played there for Cardiff RFC this season. With a year left on his deal at the Arms Park, any move to Rodney Parade now seems unlikely - raising the prospects of Martin being used as a lock next year. 25% OFF DEAL NOW: Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. Second-row has been an area Cardiff have been looking to target, along with tighthead prop and outside centre. Sherratt admitted after the win over Munster that the recent uncertainty with the Welsh Rugby Union's takeover of the club after they temporarily went into administration had not helped matters. The new Professional Rugby Agreement has yet to be signed, meaning clubs are currently unsure on exact budgets for next season - with Cardiff understood to have already missed out on one target for the 13 jersey. The club are relatively short on numbers there. Experienced Rey Lee-Lo could well sign another short-term deal, while Harri Millard has been starting there recently following a lengthy injury to Mason Grady. "I'll be honest, the change of ownership has probably delayed things," he said after the 26-21 win over Munster. "Nights like tonight help as well. "Regardless of results, there's a good group here and a good feeling. In the last two years, it's not long since we were talking about having 12 training. "We've changed training base mid-season, change of ownership, plenty of caps leave the club and new staff. This group have had every excuse to ease off. Article continues below "To be where we are at the moment, surrounded by good teams, is a massive credit to everyone involved in the club. There's always been a good spirit here."
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Health officials report additional Eddy County measles case
Vials of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine are displayed on a counter at a Walgreens Pharmacy on January 26, 2015 in Mill Valley, California. (Photo by Illustration) New Mexico Health officials reported one additional New Mexico measles case Friday, this time an adult in Eddy County, bringing the total reported infections to 66. The slow drip of cases in recent weeks does not indicate the outbreak is abating, according to New Mexico Department of Health Communications Director Robert Nott, who told Source NM that symptoms can appear a week or more after infections. 'The seemingly slow increase in measles cases in New Mexico should not be taken as a sign we are anywhere near out of the woods with this outbreak,' Nott said in a written statement. 'We see continued measles spread in bordering areas — Mexico and Texas, for example — so there is always the potential for a new introduction of cases in New Mexico.' Nott also noted that cases may rise in coming weeks after recent Easter weekend gatherings, given that 'symptoms of measles do not appear until roughly a week (or more) after infection.' The majority of measles cases in New Mexico remain in Lea County, which has 61 cases; the state has had six hospitalizations since the outbreak began in neighboring Gaines County, Texas, just across the state line. Cases in Doña Ana and Chaves counties remain unchanged, with one reported case each. Texas health officials on Friday reported cases increased by an additional 22 infections, bringing the total there to 646. Measles is highly contagious, spread through contact with airborne droplets from an infected person. Infected people can spread the disease several days before symptoms such as fever, red eyes, cough or spotty red rash appear. Two doses of the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine offers 97% protection against catching the measles, according to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control. While the majority of health professionals continue to recommend two doses of the vaccine as the safest and most effective prevention from contracting measles, a recent poll from nonpartisan health research organization KFF found nearly a quarter of their sample believed false claims about the vaccine. Poll: Belief in false measles claims correlated with lower vaccination rates Also this week, researchers from Stanford Medicine published findings that determined if vaccination rates drop further, measles (and other infectious diseases) could return in the U.S. after decades of eradication. Using a mathematical model to simulate the spread of diseases, researchers also found that if vaccination rates remain the same, measles may still make a comeback in the next two decades. Pediatrician Dr. Melissa Mason told Source NM she sees a measles comeback as a matter of potential life and death. 'With vaccination rates as they stand, without dropping more, we're still gonna see people get measles — get sick and die from this,' she said. Mason, who chairs the immunization committee for the New Mexico Pediatric Society, said she's been impressed with efforts from New Mexico health officials to vaccinate people in the Southeastern corner of the state. Statewide vaccination rates are nearly double from the same time frame last year, according to data released Tuesday. 'These are gold star efforts, and that's going to make a difference,' she said. 'But nationally, in other areas that continue to have lower rates than 95% coverage, we're going to continue to see measles.' Julia Goldberg contributed to the reporting of this story.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
NMDOH reports four additional measles cases in Lea County
(Photo by) New Mexico health officials reported four additional measles cases in Lea County Tuesday, bringing the total outbreak in New Mexico to 48 cases. The new cases impacted a very young child, one school-aged child and two adults, according to the state's website. New Mexico's current cases include 25 adults, 14 children aged 5 to 17 and nine very young children ages 0 to 4-years old, mostly in unvaccinated people. Measles cases in Eddy County remain unchanged at two, with the remaining 46 cases in Lea County. 'Measles is highly contagious, and our department continues to keep the public educated about the spread, which is still confined to the southeast portion of our state,' New Mexico Department of Health Communications Director Robert Nott told Source NM. 'But we must remain vigilant about any case count increase related to the outbreak. We are continually encouraging New Mexicans to get the MMR vaccination – their best protection from the virus.' NMDOH vaccinated more than 14,800 New Mexicans between Feb. 1 and March 31, Nott said. Measles, a highly contagious respiratory virus, spreads through contact with airborne droplets from an infected person's coughs and sneezes, which hang in the air for hours. Symptoms often take weeks to develop, and people can spread the virus days before showing a fever, cough, red eyes or the spotty red rash. Severe complications can occur with a measles infection, including brain swelling, blindness, pneumonia and death. About one in five cases merits hospitalization, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. State officials warned last month that a Texas traveler in early March exposed people in Valencia and Guadalupe counties. Nott told Source NM the department has no updates since that alert. Texas on Tuesday reported 22 more cases since Friday, bringing its total to 422 cases since early January; more than 66% of the cases are in Gaines County, Texas, where the outbreak first began. The deaths earlier this year of a 6-year old Texas child, and a Lea County adult, both unvaccinated, were the first measles deaths in the U.S. in a decade. Vaccine records can be found at the Vax View website or by calling the NMDOH immunization program at 1-833-882-6454, available weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The measles outbreak, which now includes cases in more than 20 states, has been marked by tension over the federal Health and Human Services Department's lack of a full-throated vaccination campaign, a departure from the traditional response from the country's largest public health agency, including the 1989 outbreak. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who founded the anti-vaccine nonprofit Children's Health Defense, has instead called vaccines a 'personal choice.' In February, the entire New Mexico congressional delegation called upon Kennedy to take stronger action against the outbreak. Just last week, the top vaccine scientist at the Food and Drug Administration resigned, criticizing Kennedy for 'lies and misinformation' around vaccines. Dr. Peter Marks, who played a key role in the swift development and deployment of the COVID-19 vaccine, wrote in his March 28 resignation letter that the ongoing multistate measles outbreak had resulted from public officials undermining 'confidence in well-established science underlying public health and well-being.' In interviews, Kennedy has also endorsed unproven treatments, which, if misused, could have lasting harms, doctors told Source NM. For instance, in a March 4 interview with Fox News, Kennedy said there were 'very, very good results' from treating the illness with steroids, antibiotics and cod liver oil, which is high in Vitamins A and D. Pediatrician Dr. Melissa Mason told Source NM that steroids and antibiotics may be used to treat complications from severe cases of measles — such as severe inflammation or secondary ear or lung infections — but they do not treat measles itself. 'People unnecessarily using steroids and antibiotics can actually cause harm — that should really only be done under close supervision of a physician,' she said. Two doses of the vaccine remains the only safe and effective prevention against measles, said Mason, who chairs the immunization committee for the New Mexico Pediatric Society. Mason's other concern is that misinformation about Vitamin A, which is used for treating serious cases of measles, is being falsely touted by anti-vaccine advocates as prevention. Vitamin A — unlike other vitamins — can cause liver damage in too high of doses, Mason said. 'In serious cases, the measles virus depletes the body's supply of Vitamin A,' she said. 'Only for hospitalized patients under the care of a physician, if it is shown that they are low in vitamin A, only then is it appropriate to treat with vitamin A.' The New York Times reported that doctors in Gaines County, Texas, are treating children with measles with liver damage from taking too much Vitamin A outside of doctor's orders. No such cases have been reported in Lea or Eddy counties, according to data from the New Mexico Poison and Drug Information Center at the University of New Mexico. Mason said anti-vaccine misinformation preys on people who are concerned for their children. 'I think people are scared and, when they're scared, they're looking for anything that they can use or try to stay healthy and safe,' she said. 'But you need to be careful and cautious with things that you were trying to use to be healthy and safe and actually use things that are proven.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New Mexico joins 22 states suing over health funding cuts
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez addresses reporters at a July 16 press conference in Las Cruces. (Photo by Justin Garcia / Las Cruces Bulletin) New Mexico on Tuesday joined a multi-state lawsuit against the Trump administration in Rhode Island federal court challenging billions in lost funding to state health departments — including about $60 million to New Mexico. The U.S. The Department of Health and Human Service last week announced it was pulling $11 billion in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 era grants for infectious disease research, along with $1 billion in cuts for federal grants in mental health and substance use. The New Mexico Department of Health told Source NM the federal cuts will not affect its measles programs, but confirmed on Monday the estimated $60 million in lost funding impacted 37 temporary contract staff positions. 'We are using state and federal funds to cover all other positions to ensure public health services for New Mexicans are not interrupted,' Nott said in a written statement. 'The loss of the grant money has led to the cancellation of some contracts, but nothing that will impede our efforts to deal with the measles outbreak. We are still evaluating the potential impact of the cancellation of those contracts.' 'Our goal is to continue to provide needed public health services for New Mexicans, and we remain confident we will be able to do so despite this challenge,' Nott said. Nott deferred comment on the lawsuit to the New Mexico Department of Justice. In a Tuesday news release announcing the suit, the New Mexico Department of Justice said funding loss would jeopardize state vaccine programs for school enrollment, testing, disease prevention and infectious disease treatments. 'Cuts to HHS will have a devastating impact on our state, slashing critical funding for infectious disease research and response,' Attorney General Raúl Torrez said in a statement. 'At a time when measles cases are on the rise, restricting these resources endangers public health and weakens our ability to prevent outbreaks and protect our communities.' According to the lawsuit, DHHS informed states the infectious disease grants were canceled immediately and no longer necessary 'now that the pandemic is over.' The funding cuts for the mental health grants used nearly identical language, the suit noted, but said they had been terminated 'to reduce the overall federal spending.' The notices from the federal government did not include any allegations of misspending or other graft, which is required to cancel them, according to the complaint. The cuts to grants, some of which extended into 2027, occurred simultaneously with the announcement that the agency would lay off 10,000 federal public health employees. The attorneys general requested a judge order the federal government to reinstate the funding, arguing the sudden federal budget cuts were unlawful and would cause 'irreparable harm.' Some of the states in the lawsuit described the impact the lost grants would have, such as a 12% reduction in workforce in Minnesota and $2 billion in lost funding in California. In a statement Tuesday, Attorney General Peter Neronha of Rhode Island, who is co-leading the lawsuit, characterized the cuts as 'massive and egregiously irresponsible' and said they 'should put everyone on high alert to the depths this Administration is willing to go. First and foremost, Americans expect their government to protect them from harm. By eliminating billions in critical funding for essential public health initiatives, the Administration is effectively telling the American people to fend for themselves.' 2025-0401_ECF-No.-1-(2025.04.01)-Complaint SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
