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North Wales Live
13 hours ago
- Health
- North Wales Live
How to treat sting 'like being stabbed by red-hot needle' after sightings
A pharmacist has advised how to treat a sting from an Asian hornet amid a rise in sightings in the UK. So far this year, three nests found and there have been 24 sightings of the invasive yellow-legged hornet, which pose a major threat to many native UK insects, including honey bees. An Asian hornet - believed to have arrived in France on a shipment from China in 2004 - can consume 50 honey bees a day with a swarm able to kill off a hive of more than 30,000 bees. In 2024 there were 71 sightings and 24 hives found - and while experts do not believe there is an established UK population yet, a DEFRA eradication programme continues this year. The warning from Well Pharmacy comes as Brits spend more time outdoors during an unseasonal 23C hot spell this week - considerably warmer than the 14C monthly average. The Asian hornet is said to possess one of the most unpleasant stings known to man, often compared to being stabbed by a red-hot needle. Well Pharmacy wants the public to be aware of how they can treat themselves or others who may be unfortunate enough to suffer an Asian hornet sting. Anyone suffering immediate shortness of breath after contact with an Asian hornet or any insect must call 999, while Brits worried about bug bites and stings can go direct to their local pharmacy. Under the Pharmacy First scheme, in England, patients can seek advice and treatment about infected insect bites and stings from a pharmacist, without the need to speak to a GP. The hornet, which has been mainly sighted in Kent with a couple of other sightings in Hampshire and a solitary sighting in Shropshire can potentially wreak havoc on the UK's ecosystem. It is important Brits are able to tell the difference between harmless insect bites and life-threatening stings. The invasive species have slight differences in appearance to wasps and other hornets - most prominently, the Asian hornet has yellow legs. Asian hornets are generally seen as more aggressive than wasps unlike their European cousin and will potentially sting unprovoked. If you are stung by an Asian hornet, then Well Pharmacy's George Sandhu has the following advice which could help alleviate the pain. 1. Clean with soap and water Mr Sandhu says: 'A hornet sting will be much more painful than normal stings, there is no stinger left behind, meaning there is nothing to be removed. Instead head for the sink and use soap and cool water to clean the wound, no matter how small.' 2. Apply ice Mr Sandhu says: 'Once the wound has been cleaned, head to the freezer to get ice because cooling the body's temperature will slow the spread of venom. The coolness of the ice will also provide a soothing relief to the throbbing pain which comes from an Asian hornet sting.' 3. Monitor symptoms Mr Sandhu urges anyone who has been stung to keep monitoring the wound [2] and their condition - or make sure someone is around to keep a close eye on them. Mr Sandhu says: 'Some people who are stung by an Asian hornet will find themselves having an allergic reaction following the incident. 'It is important to consult a medical professional immediately if you believe you've had an allergic reaction to an Asian hornet sting.' 4. Get emergency help Mr Sandhu says: 'If you can feel your throat getting tight or you are having trouble breathing then it is possible that you may go into anaphylactic shock. It is crucial to ensure that people around you are aware of this so they can ring 999 and get the proper help for you. If you're with someone who is experiencing these symptoms then stay calm and call an ambulance.' 5. Be one step ahead Mr Sandhu said: 'Patients may be aware that they are allergic to bee or wasp stings and if this is the case then they should make sure to always have a bee sting kit on their person. Having this kit available will allow for immediate treatment which can help save their lives should they be stung by a bee, wasp or Asian hornet. 'The kits are compact and don't take up too much space and should be a part of someone's checklist whenever they suspect they may experience insects they are allergic to.' 6. Pharmacy First Mr Sandhu added: 'It is also important to remember that pharmacists can offer expert advice on any insect bites or stings through the Pharmacy First scheme. If you are looking for medical advice and treatment, then head to your local Well Pharmacy where a pharmacist can discuss options to treat the issue. 'Many patients have the option to purchase antihistamines, steroid creams and painkillers over the counter at their local pharmacy to enable immediate treatment. Other treatments can also be offered all without the need for a doctor's appointment due to the Pharmacy First scheme.' He adds: 'All insect stings and bites can be sore initially however there are a variety of treatments which can aid patients. Many patients find that creams are helpful in soothing the area which has been stung whilst others also use soap and water to ensure that the wound is clean. 'Asian hornets possess a particularly strong sting which can be very unpleasant however if patients follow the above guidance they will be able to soothe the sting which should heal in a few days.'


Wales Online
13 hours ago
- Health
- Wales Online
How to treat sting 'like being stabbed by red-hot needle' after sightings
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A pharmacist has advised how to treat a sting from an Asian hornet amid a rise in sightings in the UK. So far this year, three nests found and there have been 24 sightings of the invasive yellow-legged hornet, which pose a major threat to many native UK insects, including honey bees. An Asian hornet - believed to have arrived in France on a shipment from China in 2004 - can consume 50 honey bees a day with a swarm able to kill off a hive of more than 30,000 bees. In 2024 there were 71 sightings and 24 hives found - and while experts do not believe there is an established UK population yet, a DEFRA eradication programme continues this year. The warning from Well Pharmacy comes as Brits spend more time outdoors during an unseasonal 23C hot spell this week - considerably warmer than the 14C monthly average. The Asian hornet is said to possess one of the most unpleasant stings known to man, often compared to being stabbed by a red-hot needle. Well Pharmacy wants the public to be aware of how they can treat themselves or others who may be unfortunate enough to suffer an Asian hornet sting. Anyone suffering immediate shortness of breath after contact with an Asian hornet or any insect must call 999, while Brits worried about bug bites and stings can go direct to their local pharmacy. Under the Pharmacy First scheme, in England, patients can seek advice and treatment about infected insect bites and stings from a pharmacist, without the need to speak to a GP. The hornet, which has been mainly sighted in Kent with a couple of other sightings in Hampshire and a solitary sighting in Shropshire can potentially wreak havoc on the UK's ecosystem. It is important Brits are able to tell the difference between harmless insect bites and life-threatening stings. The invasive species have slight differences in appearance to wasps and other hornets - most prominently, the Asian hornet has yellow legs. Asian hornets are generally seen as more aggressive than wasps unlike their European cousin and will potentially sting unprovoked. If you are stung by an Asian hornet, then Well Pharmacy's George Sandhu has the following advice which could help alleviate the pain. 1. Clean with soap and water Mr Sandhu says: 'A hornet sting will be much more painful than normal stings, there is no stinger left behind, meaning there is nothing to be removed. Instead head for the sink and use soap and cool water to clean the wound, no matter how small.' 2. Apply ice Mr Sandhu says: 'Once the wound has been cleaned, head to the freezer to get ice because cooling the body's temperature will slow the spread of venom. The coolness of the ice will also provide a soothing relief to the throbbing pain which comes from an Asian hornet sting.' 3. Monitor symptoms Mr Sandhu urges anyone who has been stung to keep monitoring the wound [2] and their condition - or make sure someone is around to keep a close eye on them. Mr Sandhu says: 'Some people who are stung by an Asian hornet will find themselves having an allergic reaction following the incident. 'It is important to consult a medical professional immediately if you believe you've had an allergic reaction to an Asian hornet sting.' 4. Get emergency help Mr Sandhu says: 'If you can feel your throat getting tight or you are having trouble breathing then it is possible that you may go into anaphylactic shock. It is crucial to ensure that people around you are aware of this so they can ring 999 and get the proper help for you. If you're with someone who is experiencing these symptoms then stay calm and call an ambulance.' 5. Be one step ahead Mr Sandhu said: 'Patients may be aware that they are allergic to bee or wasp stings and if this is the case then they should make sure to always have a bee sting kit on their person. Having this kit available will allow for immediate treatment which can help save their lives should they be stung by a bee, wasp or Asian hornet. 'The kits are compact and don't take up too much space and should be a part of someone's checklist whenever they suspect they may experience insects they are allergic to.' 6. Pharmacy First Mr Sandhu added: 'It is also important to remember that pharmacists can offer expert advice on any insect bites or stings through the Pharmacy First scheme. If you are looking for medical advice and treatment, then head to your local Well Pharmacy where a pharmacist can discuss options to treat the issue. 'Many patients have the option to purchase antihistamines, steroid creams and painkillers over the counter at their local pharmacy to enable immediate treatment. Other treatments can also be offered all without the need for a doctor's appointment due to the Pharmacy First scheme.' He adds: 'All insect stings and bites can be sore initially however there are a variety of treatments which can aid patients. Many patients find that creams are helpful in soothing the area which has been stung whilst others also use soap and water to ensure that the wound is clean. 'Asian hornets possess a particularly strong sting which can be very unpleasant however if patients follow the above guidance they will be able to soothe the sting which should heal in a few days.'

Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Galt City Council considers money to help Liberty Ranch boosters
May 31—GALT — A high school booster club is getting some financial help months after some $200,000 in funds were stolen. The Galt City Council will consider approving the allocation of $1,000 in public benefit funds from Vice Mayor Paul Sandhu to the Liberty Ranch Hawks Booster Club at its Tuesday, June 4 meeting. Sandhu asked for the funds to be allocated to the organization during the May 20 council meeting. "Their financial (situation), as everybody knows, is not that great," Sandhu said last week. "So I'd like to give my $1,000 to them." The Galt Joint Union High School District announced on March 20 that funds were found to be missing from the Liberty Ranch High School Sports Booster Club following an audit earlier in the month. The club filed a civil complaint against its former treasurer, Carmela Cuadrado Baker in Sacramento County Superior Court on March 20, along withe her husband Paul and 10 other named people. The suit alleges that Carmela Baker used by the club's debit card at 51 different businesses, with the largest coming at Instacart, where she spent more than $53,000. There were also purchases of more than $44,000 on Amazon, more than $27,000 at Walmart, nearly $18,000 at Costco and nearly $13,000 through PayPal. Other notable spending included more than $7,000 through AirBNB, nearly $7,000 at the City of Galt, $4,600 at Disneyland, nearly $5,000 at Save Mart and more than $3,000 at Stratton's Pizza. According to the suit, Carmela Baker is a para-educator at the Galt Joint Union Elementary School District who began volunteering with the Booster Club in 2019. The club raises and distributes funds for 17 athletic teams at Liberty Ranch High School through events and concessions at the Hawks Nest and Hawks Stadium. Money raised goes into a pool, which is then used to distribute to teams for equipment, team dinners, senior nights and banquets, among other events. Last June, the council agreed to re-establish the City Council Public Benefit Funds for the use of "worthy projects, programs, organizations, or other purposes of benefit to the community." Each council member was allotted $1,000 in a fiscal year for a grand total of $5,000 to be distributed. Said funds need to be used in full each fiscal year and cannot be rolled over. Tuesday's meeting begins at 6 p.m. at Galt City Hall, 380 Civic Drive. It will also be livestreamed at the council's YouTube channel,
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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Colombia retracts statement on Pak, backs India after Tharoor's disapproval
Colombia has officially withdrawn its statement expressing condolences over deaths in Pakistan following India's Operation Sindoor, after strong disapproval from Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who is leading an all-party delegation to the South American country. The Colombian government will now issue a new statement that aligns more closely with India's position on counterterrorism. "The Vice Minister very graciously mentioned that they have withdrawn the statement that we had expressed concern about, and that they fully understand our position on the matter which we really value," Tharoor told reporters, standing alongside Colombia's Vice Foreign Minister, Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio. Villavicencio affirmed Colombia's renewed understanding: "We are very confident that with the explanation that we received today and the detailed information that we now have regarding the real situation, the conflict, and what happened in Kashmir, we can also continue the dialogue and be aware of what is happening." 'No equivalence between terrorists and victims': Tharoor "We're very pleased to learn that that statement has been withdrawn as you've also mentioned, and we are also very pleased that you, as representatives of the people of Colombia, are determined to stand with us for our sovereignty, for peace in the world, for peace in the subcontinent of India and that you are very, very happy that this kind of dialogue will continue between our peoples and our representatives," he said. Delegation's efforts in Colombia Former Indian Ambassador to the United States and BJP leader Taranjit Singh Sandhu credited the delegation's detailed explanations for Colombia's shift. "This morning we had a detailed interaction with the acting Foreign Minister and our leader and the entire team made specific points to them explaining to them the timeline which perhaps to an extent they might have missed out," Sandhu told news agency ANI. Sandhu also noted Colombia's growing importance as it is set to become a member of the UN Security Council soon. Operation Sindoor The delegation's outreach follows the Pahalgam attack on April 22, in which 26 civilians were killed in a terrorist attack claimed by The Resistance Front, a Lashkar-e-Taiba offshoot based in Pakistan. India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 as a counterterrorism measure. Tharoor underscored that India's actions were an exercise of its right to self-defence, drawing parallels with Colombia's own struggles with terrorism. "Just as Colombia has endured many terror attacks, so have we in India. We have endured a very large number of attacks for almost four decades," he said. Multi-party outreach mission The Tharoor-led delegation, which includes lawmakers from across the political spectrum — Sarfraz Ahmad (JMM), G M Harish Balayogi (TDP), Shashank Mani Tripathi (BJP), Bhubaneswar Kalita (BJP), Milind Deora (Shiv Sena), Tejasvi Surya (BJP) — arrived in Colombia after visiting Panama and Guyana. Their itinerary in Bogota features meetings with Members of Congress, ministers, think tanks, and media representatives. This delegation is one of seven multi-party groups tasked by India to explain Operation Sindoor to 33 countries following the terror attack. India-Pakistan tensions Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated sharply after the Pahalgam attack. India conducted precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7. Pakistan responded with attempts to target Indian military bases on May 8, 9, and 10. The hostilities de-escalated after talks between both sides' Directors General of Military Operations on May 10, leading to an agreement to halt military actions.


Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Kuwait supports India against terror: MP Sandhu
Kuwait firmly supports India's stance against terrorism, Rajya Sabha member Satnam Singh Sandhu has said. Sandhu is a part of the all-party delegation led by BJP MP Baijayant Panda that reached Kuwait on Sunday that was the second stop of a four-nation diplomatic outreach after Bahrain as part of India's engagement with key international partners to foster greater global cooperation in combating terrorism. 'The delegation has briefed the leadership of Kuwait about India's recent actions against cross-border terrorism and reaffirmed our joint zero-tolerance stance,' he said. Also Read | BSF hit over 70 Pak posts, 3 terror launchpads during Op Sindoor: IG Shashank Kuwait officials were given details and facts about the Pahalgam terror attack and the action taken by India in response. The delegation apprised the Kuwaiti government about the Operation Sindoor, which was successfully executed by the Indian armed forces to dismantle the terror hideouts on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and cause no harm to any civilian population in Pakistan. Also Read | Will reopen 48 J&K tourist spots in phased manner: Omar Abdullah 'We have urged Bahrain and Kuwait to extend support India in blacklisting Pakistan once again in FATF over its continued support to terrorism,' Sandhu added.