More info released RE the man who tested positive for Bird Flu

[Zara]

Very sad,

Pic:UK's bird flu 'patient zero' seen for first time in self-isolation

Neighbours described Alan Gosling, 79, from Buckfastleigh, Devon, as 'eccentric' and said they were not surprised the pensioner had caught the disease, given his close proximity to the animals.

www-dailymail-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org

 

[Elysian]

Oh that poor man and his duckies!

But.. this part is confusing.
"The pensioner is the first ever human case of H5N1 — which is fatal for up to half of the people it infects".
He can't be the "first ever" if he has no symptoms but they know it's fatal to people?

 

[Destiny]

That sentence is badly parsed. He is the first recorded case in the UK. This disease is rare and originated in Asia.

According to a different source: "More than 700 human infections with Asian HPAI H5N1 viruses have been reported to WHO from primarily 15 countries in Asia, Africa, the Pacific, Europe and the Near East since November 2003. Indonesia, Vietnam and Egypt have reported the highest number of human HPAI Asian H5N1 cases to date."

It doesn't transmit to people easily. Most commonly seen in people who spend a lot of time around infected birds.

 

[Ripshod]

Daily Mail has been proved many times to be a major source of 'fake' news. One of the worst offenders.

 

[Zara]

Oh that poor man and his duckies!

Yes, so heartbreaking to think how he is feeling and what he´s going through. He said he even helped raise some as chicks.
Though I don´t agree with him living amongst so much duck muck, and him interacting with the wild birds and inviting them into his home was a recipe for disaster, I can´t help but feel a deep sadness for him.

 

[Destiny]

Yeah, he obviously cared deeply for his ducks and will be very lonely without them. The article mentions that they were mandarin ducks. Incidentally, mandarins are my favorite duck species.



They are so beautiful!

 

[Sparkles99]

This highlights the importance of cleanliness.

 

[Zara]

Incidentally, mandarins are my favorite duck species.

They are my dad's fave too.
Interestingly those pics are both males and are what most people instantly think of when they think of mandarin ducks. The females are less flashy but just as cute

 

[Destiny]

Yeah, they are both beautiful.



Their eyes are very expressive, I think.



It is probably for the best that I don't live close to a watershed frequented by wood ducks. I could easily see myself becoming a crazy duck lady in my old age ....