WASHINGTON (CNN) – The number of Americans who are worried about the H1N1 flu has more than doubled since May, according to a new national poll. But the CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Wednesday morning also indicates that most Americans have confidence in the government's ability to prevent a nationwide epidemic.
Thirty-nine percent of people questioned say they are worried that they or someone in their immediate family will get the H1N1 flu, with 17 percent suggesting they were concerned but not anymore and 44 percent saying they've never been worried. That 39 percent who say they are worried is more than double the 17 percent who felt the same way in May.
"Back in May, concerns about the flu were ebbing because flu season in the U.S. was nearing its end," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "But the flu didn't go away - it just moved to other places around the world. Now a new flu season is starting, and worries about H1N1 are back."
According to the poll, 59 percent are confident that the federal government can prevent a nationwide epidemic, with four in 10 not optimistic.
"That doesn't mean that the public thinks that the fight against the H1N1 flu will be easy - two-thirds of all adult Americans say they want to get a H1N1 flu shot if one is available, but only half think there will be enough vaccine to go around," adds Holland.
The two-thirds who say they would get a vaccine shot if one is available compares to the 53 percent who told a Gallup poll in 1976, the last time swine flu posed a serious threat, that they would get a swine flu shot.
The CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll was conducted Friday through Monday, with 1,010 adult Americans questioned by telephone. The survey's sampling error is plus or minus three percentage points.
From CNN Politics
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Why does this story fall under Politics? It seems like every "crisis" is bent and skewed into some sort of political statement or angle these days. The flu is the flu, the pig flu is the pig flu, there's nothing the government or anyone can do about that.
I'm more worried about the vaccine procuced by fear mongering Big Pharma!
I have no concerns. Just another media hype. Seems only of concern to the media to sell air time and papers...must be a slow news week.
Oh wait, the government should worry about health care?!
I cant wait for the liberals to start blaming Bush for the H1N1 virus and whatever government ineptitude occurs.
The concern is because the media is making it a big deal. It's like the regular flu and the people who have died "because of H1N1" would have died from the regular flu as well.
Even tho the shots were not for swine flu it seems that the reason most seniors are sorta immune is because of, all those shots. Maybe it would be a good thing to give everyone flu shots each year. It might help when a big one like this flu comes along.
And you don't want to reform health care ? GOOD LUCK!!
PS forgot this....if the republicans are so all fired riled up about """"government in their life"""", why doesn't the government just skip them when it comes to giving them shots for the flu. After all we can accomodate them very well and keep the government out of their life.
What's to worry about? Obama says we just need to wash our hands more often...
People need to relax. If you want something to worry about, how about the 40,000 that die every year from regular flu?
If there had been as much of a PUSH to get a vaccine for this flu, as there was to PUSH the Health Care plan down our throats, then we
would be lining up for shots by now.
When PUSH comes to SHOVE this Administration needs to get it's priorities straight.
Prevent American black men from killing each other in Chicago and Memphis, reform immigration to provide for the common good,
and WIN the war in Afghanistan, so our soldiers can come home to
the greatest country in the world.
Why is this on the political ticker?
I had the seasonal flu last year, and trust me, it's nothing you wanna mess around with.
Is big Pharma now producing these viruses in the lab to make more money?Makes you wonder when there are millions of dollars to be made and increase stock values.We dont trust them,look at all the stuff they sell now and the money they make from sickening people.
Not half as worried as the people worried about being forced to take the vaccine.
This is George Bush's fault. I'm not sure how, but I know it is. Help me out here, Lefties.
Only a pansie would worry about such things. People can be such sissies.
Long as the media is spreading fear, people will stay scared.
What a perfectly timed diversion for our failing president. The Obama administration will blow this way out of proportion to divert our attention from congress, health care and his personal Viet Nam, Afganistan. NEVER LET A CRISIS GO TO WASTE right Barry?
Paranoid Americans, at it again. It amazes me how many people are quick to criticize our politicians when they're stupid enough to walk around with face masks and preach Armageddon scenarios because of one minor strain of the flu.
The Obama administration and almost every Democrat in America would love nothing more than an outbreak where they control who gets the shots. It is beyond clear that they would try to deny the shot to those they dont like. They would be the people that they currently call nazis and racists, pretty much every American who does not sip the lib-aide and controls their own thoughts and minds.
The concerns regarding the H1N1 virus is beginning to reach a peak in today's society. Citizens nationwide are taking precautions to prevent themselves from becoming victim. Students, workers, and individuals everywhere have increased caution to oppose this swine flu virus. Majority of the U.S. citizens believe that the government can prevent this nationwide epidemic. With the proper vaccinations and precautions, we all can contribute to the dismissal of the H1N1 virus