The percentage of Americans worrying about coronavirus is lower than those worrying about influenza, a poll conducted this month found.
The poll was conducted by the Associated Press and NORC Center for Public Affairs Research at the University of Chicago between Feb. 13 and Feb. 16. And includes responses from 1,074 adults nationwide.
When asked if they were worried about contracting coronavirus or a family member contracting it:
• 22 percent of respondents said they were extremely/very worried
• 23 percent said they were somewhat worried
• 55 percent said they were not too worried/not at all worried
When asked if they were worried about contracting the flu or a family member contracting it:
• 23 percent said they were extremely/very worried
• 40 percent said they were somewhat worried
• 37 percent said they were not too worried/not at all worried
Overall, Americans have confidence in U.S. health officials' ability to handle the outbreak of a new virus, with 35 percent of respondents reporting they have a "great deal or quite a bit" of confidence, and 43 percent reporting they have a "moderate amount" of confidence.
A greater proportion of those who received their flu vaccine had confidence in officials' ability to deal with a new epidemic, with 80 percent of vaccinated adults saying they had a "great deal" or "moderate amount" of confidence.