A nationally representative panel of 1,580 US adults was surveyed by SSRS for the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) from July 12-18, 2022, the seventh batch of the survey. Annenberg Science Knowledge (ASK) to which the respondent was the first. allowed in April 2021. The sampling margin of error (MOE) is ±3.3 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. See appendices and methodology for more information.
The survey answers questions like: How worried is the public about getting COVID-19 or monkeypox? Does the public have basic knowledge about monkeypox? How widespread is misinformation about smallpox in monkeys?
Highlights
Conducted against the backdrop of increasing cases of the BA.5 omicron coronavirus subtype and the spread of smallpox cases in monkeys, the survey found that many people (80%) watched, read or heard something about monkeypox in the past month, but many people lack knowledge about monkeypox epidemic:
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19% of Americans are worried about getting monkeypox in the next three months.
30% of those surveyed are worried about contracting COVID-19 in the next three months.
Nearly half (48%) are unsure whether monkeypox is less contagious than COVID.
Two-thirds (66%) are either unsure or not convinced that there is a monkeypox vaccine.
Kathleen Hall Jamieson, Director of the Annenberg Center for Public Policy, said: “It is important for the public to balance their concerns with the reality of the risk of COVID-19 and smallpox in monkeys and act accordingly. fit.
Concern about smallpox in monkeys
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), monkeypox, a rare disease caused by the orthopoxvirus, is a less lethal member of the same virus family as smallpox. .
The disease, discovered in 1958, is characterized by a rash, according to the CDC, and is transmitted from person to person by direct contact with infectious rash, scabs or bodily fluids, respiratory secretions, touching objects that touch the body transmit fluids from a pregnant person to the fetus through the placenta, or from an infected animal. (For more information, see this Q&A about monkeypox on APPC’s FactCheck.org.)
During the current monkeypox outbreak, about 2,900 cases have been reported in the United States as of June 22, and more than 16,000 cases have been reported in 75 countries, according to WHO.
Among the Survey Results:
Worried about catching monkeypox: About a fifth of those surveyed (19%) were slightly worried (14%) or very worried (5%) about contracting monkeypox for three months coming, while 81% did not exceed (41%) or did not. anxiety (40%).
Women are more worried about getting monkeypox than men: Although the majority of smallpox cases in the United States to date have been in men who have sex with men, 23% of women are worried about monkeypox compared with 15% of men.
COVID-19: More Americans (30%) are worried about contracting COVID over the next three months, with 24% slightly worried and 6% very worried.
Women are also more worried about COVID-19 than men: 33% of women are worried about contracting COVID compared to 27% of men.
Knowledge about monkey smallpox
While many Americans in general are familiar with monkeypox, much of the public lacks important information about the disease – and how to protect yourself:
Most don’t know a monkeypox vaccine exists: Overall, 2 out of 3 Americans (66%) are uncertain (51%) whether a monkeypox vaccine exists (15% ). One in three people (34%) know correctly that there is a monkeypox vaccine. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized a vaccine to prevent smallpox in monkeys, and a licensed vaccine for smallpox is also available to prevent smallpox. season in monkeys, according to the CDC.
Which is more contagious: monkeypox or COVID? More than a third of those surveyed (36%) know that monkeypox is less contagious than COVID-19. But 14% incorrectly said monkeypox was as contagious as COVID-19 and nearly half (48%) were uncertain. The CDC says monkeypox is “not known to be airborne and is not transmitted for short periods in general airspace” but is caused by direct contact with an infected individual or touched materials. bodily fluids or sores or through respiratory secretions on “close, face-to-face contact.” An infectious disease expert, Anne Rimoin, told Vox monkeypox “is not likely to be” highly contagious like smallpox or measles, or certainly not COVID.”
Monkeypox and COVID-19 vaccine: Most people (67%) say they think getting the COVID-19 vaccine doesn’t increase their chances of getting monkeypox, although more than a quarter respondents (28%) are not sure. There is no evidence that this is true.
Are people who already have COVID-19 at higher risk? One-third (33%) report that being infected with COVID-19 in itself does not put a person at higher risk of contracting monkeypox, although almost two-thirds (63%) are uncertain about this. correct or not. There is no evidence that having COVID increases the risk of smallpox in monkeys.
Higher risk for people who work with animals? When asked if the CDC recommends that people who work with animals have a higher risk of monkeypox, less than 1 in 10 respondents (9%) answered yes. A third (34%) said no, while more than half (57%) were unsure. Although the current outbreak involves human-to-human transmission, the 2003 outbreak in domesticated prairie dogs resulted in 47 human cases in the United States. Smallpox in monkeys can infect a wide range of mammals, including monkeys, anteaters, porcupines, prairie dogs, squirrels, and shrews. CDC says infected animals can transmit the virus to humans and it’s possible that infected people can transmit the virus to animals, CDC, which lists people at higher risk as possible consider vaccinating “for laboratory workers handling cultures or animals with orthopoxvirus”. ”
Higher risk for men who have sex with men? When asked if the CDC recommends that men who have sex with men have a higher risk of contracting monkeypox, one-third of those surveyed (33%) said yes. Two-thirds (66%) say this is false or they don’t know. The WHO said cases outside Africa during this outbreak were mostly in men who have sex with men, while warning that there was no evidence it would be limited to those groups. In an interview with the Washington Post, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said men who have sex with men are “the most at-risk community.”
“It’s time to reduce sensitivity to misinformation about monkeypox,” says Jamieson. “It is extremely important that public health professionals provide concerned people with accurate information about how this virus is transmitted and prevented. Vaccinate those at risk. The highest chance should be the national priority.”
Conspiracy theories and misinformation about smallpox
“As one would expect, conspiracy theorists have incorporated monkeypox into their pre-existing belief that, rather than emerge through natural processes, a virus that spreads must be carefully controlled. biological technology, released on purpose to fulfill a political goal or as a by-product of exposure to Jamieson said.
Most Americans reject the conspiracy theories alleging that smallpox in monkeys was bioengineered in a laboratory or spread intentionally. Here too, however, the Annenberg ASK survey reveals disturbing numbers that either accept one of four conspiracy theories or aren’t sure if they’re true or false.
Bioengineering in the Lab: More than half of those surveyed (54%) rejected the false idea that monkeypox had been bioengineered in the lab, although a third (34%) aren’t sure if it’s true or not, and 12% say it’s probably true. or certainly true. There is no evidence of this.
Among the few people who believe that monkeypox has been bioengineered in the lab, 56% say the lab is in China; 16% said that the United States; 15% Russia; 12% some other countries. Intentional release (ask half of the sample, MOE = ± 4.7 percentage points): More than half (56%) believe it is certain or possibly false to claim that monkeypox was intentionally developed opinion, although 30% are uncertain and 14% think it may or may not be true.
Brought to help Biden (half sample required, MOE = ±4.7 percentage points): 71% reject the false claim that monkeypox was intentionally released by scientists to do divert attention from the failures of the Biden administration. However, 19% said they weren’t sure if this was true or not, and 10% said it may or may not be true. There is no evidence of this.
Caused by exposure to 5G: A majority (78%) say it is true, it is false to assert that monkeypox is caused by exposure to 5G signals, although 21% are uncertain.
Source: Eurekalert
