With the quantity of cases of H1N1 influenza rising, a significant percentage of Americans say they are worried about the spread of the virus, but are fairly confident the government is prepared to address the outbreak. H1N1 often referred to as “swine flu” is the first pandemic influenza to hit the U. S. in over 40 years.
According to the newest FOX News poll, just about 2 out of 3 Americans are "very" anxious ( 26 % ) or "somewhat concerned" ( 38 % ) about the spread of the virus, while 1 in 3 is "not very" worried ( 22 % ) or "not at all concerned" ( 13% ). That more Americans aren't panicking over the H1N1 virus might be because most of them have bigger concerns right now over more pertinent issues like the economy, unemployment, the deficit, the war in Iraq and Afghanistan to name a few.
When asked whether or not they were more concerned a member of the family might lose their job or catch the swine influenza, two times as many showed a bigger concern about job security ( 55 % job loss to 28 % swine flu ). Though few Americans ( 9% )feel the government is "not at all prepared" to address the virus, only a little over 14% believe the state is "very prepared."
Confidence in the government's capability to deal with the pandemic lies somewhere between, with a slight 54-percent majority asserting the government is "somewhat prepared" and roughly one in 5 ( 18% ) exclaiming "not very."
Compared to 2005 when the next pandemic was anticipated to be spread by birds, virtually 2 times as many today feel that the authorities are at least somewhat prepared for an outbreak ( 68 % swine flu to 35 % bird flu ). A majority of north Americans are also doing their part to stop the spread of the virus: 66 % say they are washing their hands more often to stop catching the swine influenza.
A slight majority ( 53 % ) also plan to get immunized against H1N1 when a vaccine becomes available. This has similarities to the number of people who say they generally get immunized against the seasonal influenza ( 56% ), which indicates confidence in the security of new vaccine.
Opinion Dynamics Co conducted the nation's phone poll of nine hundred registered citizens for FOX NEWS from September 15 to September 16. The poll has a 3-point error margin.