These poll numbers were released yesterday by Rasmussen Reports -- "an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information."
47% Concerned About Swine Flu, Down 18 Points From April
Friday, June 12, 2009
The World Health Organization has now declared swine flu a pandemic, its highest global alert status, but Americans are much less concerned about the disease than they were when it first became public two months ago.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 47% of Americans are at least somewhat concerned about the threat of swine flu, with just 16% very concerned.
In late April , 65% were at least somewhat concerned, with 20% very concerned.
Women are twice as likely to be very concerned as men. By an almost four-to-one margin, more African-Americans are very concerned than whites.
Thirty-seven percent (37%) of all adults say they are not very concerned about the threat of the disease now, and 14% are not at all concerned. These numbers compare with 25% and eight percent (8%) respectively in the last survey.
Only 16% of Americans now say they are more likely to get a flu shot this year because of the outbreak of swine flu. Twenty-two percent (22%) say they are less likely to do so. For 60%, the outbreak has no impact on their decision whether to get a flu shot.
Seventy-one percent (71%) believe the media tends to make the outbreak of diseases like swine flu sound worse than they really are, up 10 points from April. But 16% disagree and 13% are not sure.
Nevertheless, two-thirds of Americans (67%) say they are following news reports about the growing number of cases of swine flu around the world at least somewhat closely. Of that group, 29% are following very closely. Only nine percent (9%) are not following swine flu stories at all.
But even by early May, the strongest reaction most Americans were having to the outbreak of swine flu was to wash their hands more than usual .
Americans think the media has overhyped the problems of the economy and global warming too.
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To view the original report, please use this link: What Swine Flu?