Americans still not worried about the Zika virus: 4 new poll findings

Though local Zika transmission has come to the continental U.S., a majority of Americans are not worried about the virus, according to a new poll from the The Washington Post and ABC News.

The poll was conducted from Aug. 1 to Aug. 4 among a randomized national sample of more than 1,000 adults.

Here are four key findings from the Post-ABC poll:

1. Zika worries: In June, a similar survey revealed that 67 percent of Americans were either "not too" or "not at all" worried about either themselves or their loved ones becoming infected with the Zika virus. Little changed in public Zika fears between June and August as 65 percent of survey respondents reported being unworried about Zika infections and only 35 percent reported concern.

2. Swine flu: Though Zika's link to the birth defect microcephaly has been confirmed and U.S. health officials have found laboratory evidence of Zika in 497 pregnant women in the U.S., reported worries about Zika infections are still behind public infection worries recorded during the swine flu outbreak of 2009. During said outbreak, 52 percent of those surveyed expressed worry about themselves or a family member becoming infected.

3. Florida and Texas: Zika concerns in Florida — where local transmission has been confirmed — and Texas are slightly higher than concerns of those in other states. In these two at-risk states, 43 percent of respondents reported infection concerns.

4. Confidence: Despite the partisan turmoil spurred by emergency Zika funds and Congress' failure to pass a measure to appropriate such funds, Americans are largely confident in the federal government's ability to respond effectively to an outbreak of Zika. Of those surveyed, 69 percent reported confidence in the government's ability to conduct an effective response.

More articles on the Zika virus: 
FDA approves new Zika genetic test for emergency use  
CDC director: Local Zika spread could last a year in Florida  
Amid Zika fears, Texas Medicaid to pay for mosquito repellent 

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