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Monkeys Who Recently Died in Hong Kong's Zoo Had Been Infected with Melioidosis

Giant tubeworms on the seafloor surface at 2,500 meters water depth at the East Pacific Rise, a volcanically active ridge located where two tectonic plates meet on the floor of the Pacific Ocean in this undated photograph.CC BY-NC-SA Schmidt Ocean Institute/Handout via REUTERS
Giant tubeworms on the seafloor surface at 2,500 meters water depth at the East Pacific Rise, a volcanically active ridge located where two tectonic plates meet on the floor of the Pacific Ocean in this undated photograph.CC BY-NC-SA Schmidt Ocean Institute/Handout via REUTERS
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Monkeys Who Recently Died in Hong Kong's Zoo Had Been Infected with Melioidosis

Giant tubeworms on the seafloor surface at 2,500 meters water depth at the East Pacific Rise, a volcanically active ridge located where two tectonic plates meet on the floor of the Pacific Ocean in this undated photograph.CC BY-NC-SA Schmidt Ocean Institute/Handout via REUTERS
Giant tubeworms on the seafloor surface at 2,500 meters water depth at the East Pacific Rise, a volcanically active ridge located where two tectonic plates meet on the floor of the Pacific Ocean in this undated photograph.CC BY-NC-SA Schmidt Ocean Institute/Handout via REUTERS

Nine monkeys who died in Hong Kong's oldest zoo in two days this week had been infected with an endemic disease, possibly after some digging work near their cages, officials said on Friday.

Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung said in a press briefing that the animals in the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens contracted melioidosis and the disease later caused them to develop sepsis, according to The AP.

Yeung stressed that such infections typically occur through contact with contaminated soil and water and that there is generally no danger to humans from contact with infected animals or people.

“We're saddened by the passing of the nine monkeys,” he said.

Eight monkeys were found dead on Sunday, and another died Monday after displaying unusual behavior. The deceased animals were a De Brazza’s monkey, a common squirrel monkey, four white-faced sakis and three cotton-top tamarins — a species listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

According to Hong Kong's Center for Health Protection, melioidosis is caused by the bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei, which is widespread in soils and muddy water.

Yeung said the park conducted digging work to repair some irrigation pipes under the flower bed near the monkey cages in early October and that the deaths might be related to that.

He said the monkeys might have come into contact with the bacteria after the park's staff walked into their cages with possibly contaminated shoes. Another possibility is that some infected monkeys had close contact with other monkeys, he said.

“The incubation period for melioidosis in primates is about a week and this matched with the period after the soil digging work,” he said.

Edwin Tsui, the controller of the center, said the incident only happened in a single zone and its impact on Hong Kong residents would be very low.

Yeung on Monday held an urgent interdepartmental meeting about the deaths with the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department and the Department of Health.

Another De Brazza’s monkey also displayed unusual behavior and appetite but offiicials said its condition remained stable on Friday.

The Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens — the oldest park in the former British colony — fully opened to the public in 1871. It is a rare urban oasis in the downtown Central district of the financial hub, which returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

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That Water Bottle You're Carrying Says a Lot More than 'Hydration'

A selection of Lifestyle WD water bottles featuring animals are displayed at the Ambiente homewares trade fair in Frankfurt, Germany in Feb. 2025. (Kim Cook via AP)
A selection of Lifestyle WD water bottles featuring animals are displayed at the Ambiente homewares trade fair in Frankfurt, Germany in Feb. 2025. (Kim Cook via AP)
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That Water Bottle You're Carrying Says a Lot More than 'Hydration'

A selection of Lifestyle WD water bottles featuring animals are displayed at the Ambiente homewares trade fair in Frankfurt, Germany in Feb. 2025. (Kim Cook via AP)
A selection of Lifestyle WD water bottles featuring animals are displayed at the Ambiente homewares trade fair in Frankfurt, Germany in Feb. 2025. (Kim Cook via AP)

If you like to stay hydrated no matter where you go, chances are you´ve got a reusable water bottle or two. Or 10. (The collectors know who they are.)

Whether you´re a tech enthusiast, fashion trendsetter, hiker, commuter or just an eco-conscious consumer, there´s a bottle out there for you. There are bottles that sterilize themselves. Bottles that remind you when to drink. Bottles designed for sustainability. And bottles transformed by a paintbox of colors and imagery into mini artworks.

Hydration´s become more than a necessity. It´s got a personality.

Kit Dillon, a writer for Wirecutter, says four things make a good water bottle: "It´s the right size. It´s leakproof. It feels good. It insulates well."

Which one works for you depends on what you use it for, he says. Eva Bleyer, who tests kitchen appliances for the Good Housekeeping Institute, agrees.

Some people go for a favorite sipping straw while others value a comfortable carrying handle. For collectors, social media feeds light up with the launch of new colors and patterns, The AP news reported.
"While I can confidently recommend which ones performed best in our tests, choosing the right water bottle is incredibly personal," she says.

It´s all a far cry from the mundane mugs of yesteryear.

An early maker of light, plastic water bottles was Nalge, in Rochester, New York, which found that the unbreakable containers it was making for science laboratories in the ´60s were being used by employees on backpacking trips. The Nalgene reusable water bottle soon went on the market.

Hundreds of plastic and bioplastic versions from various makers have been joined over the decades by stainless steel and aluminum versions, with as many iterations of the lids - straws, screw-ons, flip-ups.

The tech keeps evolving, says Bleyer. "I´ve seen and tested everything from filtering water bottles to the Air Up, which uses flavor pods to enhance the taste, as well as newer options that carbonate your water or track your sips."

Some examples:

Self-cleaning bottles could be helpful in countries or wilderness areas where water quality is questionable. Philips' GoZero UV Self-Cleaning Smart Water Bottle got top ratings in Men´s Health magazine´s testing lab for self-cleaning bottles. Its month-long battery life might make it useful for off-grid camping or trekking. LED technology automatically sanitizes the bottle every two hours, or whenever you push the cap button.

The LARQ PureVis 2 is another self-cleaning water bottle. The company says the plant-based filter in the lid removes chlorine, forever chemicals (PFAS) and bacteria. The bottle also tracks your consumption. It´s made it into the Museum of Modern Art´s design store and is part of their spring new product collection.

The HidrateSpark Pro comes with a Bluetooth tracker to keep you updated on consumption, based on your age, weight, activity level and other factors you code into the app.

Low tech but reliable: Wirecutter has put the Hydro Flask on their "best" list since they started testing water bottles in 2014, citing simple yet dependable features like good insulation, sturdy steel construction, wide or narrow mouth options, and dishwasher-cleanability.

New color and design drops generate the kind of buzz that fashion drops get. Owala´s FreeSip bottles usually go for about $25-$40, but limited-edition designs can sell in the $400 range. A Valentine´s Day pattern, and a St. Patrick´s Day pattern called "Clover the Rainbow" that was released on leap day 2024 (Feb. 29) are now on eBay for over $200.

S'well has collaborated with illustrator Steffi Lynn, known for her cheery, youthful prints and murals that feature upbeat messages like "What´s the Best That Could Happen?" and "Have a Nice Day," and also with Crayola for a series of bottles that look like giant crayons. New patterns for the brand include a deep, moody floral called Midnight Botanical.

S´well also offers customization, perhaps for an event, team or a gift for a special someone.

Italian company YouBottles did a collab with Banksy; the artist´s "Girl with Balloon" and "Flower Thrower" murals are a couple of the patterns.

Color trend giant Pantone has its own collection of BPA-free bottles in eight vibrant colors, including aubergine, red, yellow and greenery.

Snazzy carry bags for your water bottle include insulated ones that keep the drink cold or hot. PackIt has one with a crossbody strap in sturdy nylon. Versions come in sunflower or starry-night prints, and feature a phone pouch attachment.

WanderFull´s bag has made "Oprah´s Favorite Things" list twice. The bag, available in colorful puffer-coat fabric, comes with a nylon crossbody strap. There´s a vegan leather version as well, with an additional chain strap for dressier occasions.