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Iraq Announces 1st Cholera Death Since New Outbreak

FILE - A nurse stands outside a coronavirus vaccination room at a clinic in Baghdad, Iraq, April 21, 2021. AP
FILE - A nurse stands outside a coronavirus vaccination room at a clinic in Baghdad, Iraq, April 21, 2021. AP
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Iraq Announces 1st Cholera Death Since New Outbreak

FILE - A nurse stands outside a coronavirus vaccination room at a clinic in Baghdad, Iraq, April 21, 2021. AP
FILE - A nurse stands outside a coronavirus vaccination room at a clinic in Baghdad, Iraq, April 21, 2021. AP

A cholera outbreak in Iraq claimed its first victim Tuesday, with 17 new cases recorded in the country within 24 hours, a health ministry spokesperson said.

The death was recorded in the northern province of Kirkuk, the ministry's Seif al-Badr was quoted as saying by state media.

"Over the past 24 hours, 17 new cases were detected, bringing the total to 76 cases registered in Iraq since the start of the year," he said, according to AFP.

The outbreak was first officially reported earlier this month, with Kirkuk accounting for one of the 13 cases confirmed at that time.

The other infections were mostly concentrated in neighboring Sulaimaniyah province, in the autonomous Kurdistan region.

The country's last broad cholera outbreak dates back to 2015, Badr had said previously, with the central provinces of Baghdad and Babil to its south the worst affected.

Cholera is an acute diarrheal disease that is treatable with antibiotics and hydration but can kill within hours without medical attention.

It is caused by a germ that is typically transmitted by poor sanitation. People become infected when they swallow food or water carrying the bug.

According to the World Health Organization, researchers estimate that annually there are between 1.3 million and four million cases of cholera worldwide, leading to between 21,000 and 143,000 deaths.

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Chilean Zoo Stages Easter Egg Hunt with Treats for the Animals

A meerkat inspects a basket with Easter egg-themed treats in the Buinzoo in Santiago, Chile, Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)
A meerkat inspects a basket with Easter egg-themed treats in the Buinzoo in Santiago, Chile, Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)
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Chilean Zoo Stages Easter Egg Hunt with Treats for the Animals

A meerkat inspects a basket with Easter egg-themed treats in the Buinzoo in Santiago, Chile, Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)
A meerkat inspects a basket with Easter egg-themed treats in the Buinzoo in Santiago, Chile, Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)

Step aside, children — this Easter egg hunt is for zoo animals only.

At the largest private zoo in Chile, several of its animal residents — meerkats, monkeys, lemurs and others — searched on Sunday for their food packaged as Easter egg-themed treats.

The “egg hunt” is an annual event at Bioparque Buinzoo in the country’s capital, Santiago, meant to both entertain visitors and stimulate natural food-hunting behavior in various species.

The Associated Press said that zookeepers placed small bags decorated like Easter eggs but packed with meat in the enclosures of small felines, such as caracals, who leapt up tree branches to get their snacks.

A meerkat had a basket with eggs placed in between some rocks in its enclosure. Monkeys and lemurs were treated to fruits hidden in brown paper bags decorated with bunny years.

Ignacio Idalsoaga, the zoo's director, said that “in nature, these animals spend much of their life looking for food” so the zoo wanted to recreate that behavior.

The treats and snacks were “not chocolate eggs,” he added reassuringly but foods the animals would eat in their natural habitat.

The annual even has been held for the past 16 years, Idalsoaga said. This year, sheep also had to forage for their food pellets inside a colorful sphere with holes in it.

“Our creative team has been very imaginative this year” Idalsoaga said.

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Toddler Injured by Wolf in the US after Crawling Under Zoo's Exterior Metal Fence

A captive wolf is seen in the Alpha wolf wildlife park in Saint Martin Vesubie, October 17, 2006. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard (FRANCE)/ File Photo
A captive wolf is seen in the Alpha wolf wildlife park in Saint Martin Vesubie, October 17, 2006. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard (FRANCE)/ File Photo
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Toddler Injured by Wolf in the US after Crawling Under Zoo's Exterior Metal Fence

A captive wolf is seen in the Alpha wolf wildlife park in Saint Martin Vesubie, October 17, 2006. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard (FRANCE)/ File Photo
A captive wolf is seen in the Alpha wolf wildlife park in Saint Martin Vesubie, October 17, 2006. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard (FRANCE)/ File Photo

A toddler was lightly injured by a wolf at a Pennsylvania theme park zoo after he crawled under a fence and stuck his hand into the animal’s enclosure, officials at the zoo confirmed Sunday.

According to The Associated Press, the child was never inside the wolf habitat at the ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park, which is part of the Hersheypark theme park, and the officials characterized the injuries as minor without elaborating.

After the “unsupervised” child reached the metal enclosure around the wolf habitat on Saturday morning and put his hand through, a wolf approached “and made contact with the child’s hand,” according to a statement from the zoo.

“This type of response is consistent with natural animal behavior, and was not a sign of aggression,” the zoo said in a statement. “Our habitats are designed with multiple layers of protection, and clear signage and barriers are in place to help ensure safe viewing. Guests are expected to remain within designated areas and closely supervise children at all times.”

The zoo is part of the entertainment complex in Hershey, Pennsylvania, featuring a chocolate-themed amusement park. The zoo's website says it has three gray wolves.

Hersheypark made headlines last summer when a lost boy wandering a monorail line above a crowd was rescued by a park visitor who climbed onto a building and jumped onto the rails. The child was unharmed and reunited with his family.

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Best Time to Take Vitamin D for Muscle Strength

Vitamin D tablets (file photo – AP)
Vitamin D tablets (file photo – AP)
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Best Time to Take Vitamin D for Muscle Strength

Vitamin D tablets (file photo – AP)
Vitamin D tablets (file photo – AP)

Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that plays a central role in both bone and muscle health.

With growing interest in dietary supplements, a key question arises: what is the best time to take vitamin D to support muscle strength?

This article reviews the latest scientific evidence on vitamin D timing and its impact on muscle health, offering practical recommendations based on recent research.

The optimal time to take vitamin D is with or after a meal that contains fat- preferably in the morning or at lunchtime. Taking it with food enhances absorption, supporting bone health and contributing more effectively to muscle strength. It is also advisable to take it at the same time each day for best results.

How Vitamin D Works in Muscles

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, meaning its absorption in the intestine depends heavily on dietary fat. When taken with a fat-containing meal, micelles form, facilitating its transport across the intestinal wall into the bloodstream. It then reaches muscle cells, where it helps promote muscle protein synthesis and improve muscle fiber function.

Scientific Evidence on Timing

A randomized controlled trial published in Nutrients (2022) found that taking a combination of whey protein and vitamin D3 either before sleep or after waking led to beneficial increases in muscle mass in young men undergoing resistance training.

Importantly, no statistically significant differences were found between the groups in terms of muscle gains, suggesting that vitamin D’s benefits for muscle health are not dependent on a specific time of day, but rather on consistent intake.

Effects on Sleep and Melatonin

Some research indicates a link between vitamin D levels and sleep quality, with low levels associated with a higher risk of sleep disorders.

Certain recommendations suggest that taking vitamin D in the evening may interfere with melatonin production—the hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle. For this reason, experts generally recommend taking vitamin D in the morning or at midday to avoid potential sleep disruption.

Vitamin D and Athletic Performance

A systematic review published in the Journal of Human Sport and Exercise (2025), analyzing 13 studies on vitamin D and athletic performance, found:

  • Vitamin D supplementation consistently increases blood levels in athletes
  • Noticeable improvements in performance among those initially deficient
  • Mixed effects on muscle recovery and blood markers across studies
  • Seasonal fluctuations in vitamin D levels highlight the importance of supplementation timing

Taking vitamin D with main meals and maintaining daily consistency are key to maximizing its benefits for muscle health. Consulting a healthcare provider is recommended to determine the appropriate dosage based on individual health status and blood levels.