Abstract
Computer assisted telephone interviews (CATI) were conducted with a nationally representative sample of 1,200 non-institutionalized American adults (aged 18 and over) between May 3, 2006 and June 5, 2006. The results indicated: • Avian influenza is on the national agenda - Most Americans (93%) indicate they have heard of avian influenza. - Nearly three-quarters of Americans say they have discussed avian influenza with someone else. • Still, most Americans don’t know much about avian influenza - More than half of Americans say they know ‘little’ or ‘nothing’ about avian influenza. - On average, Americans correctly answer fewer than 60% of a series of 22 objective knowledge questions. • Uncertainty regarding food-related transmission - The majority of Americans are aware that animal to human transmission of the avian influenza virus can occur from contact with live infected birds or feces from infected birds. - About one-third are unsure if transmission is possible from eating infected meat or eggs. • Conflicting beliefs about preventing infection - More than two-thirds of Americans believe the virus is present in uncooked meat of infected chickens. - Yet, less than half believe that proper cooking chicken kills the avian influenza virus. - Few Americans believe infected live birds are easily recognizable; yet, many believe infected raw meat is readily identifiable. • Americans perceive the general risks posed by avian influenza to be low - Americans aren’t very worried about illness with avian influenza. - Americans report their risk of infection with avian influenza in the next year to be relatively low and other Americans’ risk of infection to be higher, but still moderate. • Yet, Americans see avian influenza in chicken as more risky - The majority of Americans report greater perceived risk specifically associated with the consequences of eating chicken infected with avian influenza. • Most Americans currently view chicken as safe and continue to eat it - More than nine-in-ten Americans say they currently eat chicken. - Americans report that chicken products in the U.S. are currently safe to eat. • The proximity of avian influenza cases affects Americans likelihood of eating chicken - The nearer avian influenza comes to the U.S., the less likely Americans are to eat chicken. - Avian influenza does not necessarily have to emerge in the U.S. to affect poultry consumption. • Many Americans are unlikely to eat chicken if the avian influenza virus is found inside the U.S. - Americans say they are relatively unlikely to eat chicken in the U.S. if avian influenza is found in wild birds in the U.S. or if someone became sick with avian influenza from eating chicken in the U.S. - Americans report being least likely to eat chicken in the U.S. if avian influenza was found in chickens on farms in the U.S. and 39% report that they would definitely not eat chicken. - Americans report reluctance to eat any chicken products if U.S. chickens are infected. • Even with a strong, specific assurance of safety, many Americans report that they would be unlikely to eat chicken again if the avian influenza virus is found inside the U.S. - One-fifth (20%) say they would never eat chicken again. - Those participants who said they would eat chicken again, report that it would take an average of 144 days for them to start eating it again (SD=337.67; Mdn=42).