Few Americans Worried About SARS. Most are Following News of SARS, But Fear of Catching it Is Muted

ABC Analysis By Dalia Sussman

April 5 — Three-quarters of Americans are following news of the SARS virus, but with fairly muted concern: Fewer than four in 10 are worried about catching the disease, lower than the levels of recent worry about the West Nile Virus or mad cow disease.

 Thirty-eight percent worry that they or an immediate family member will catch Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. By contrast, 53 percent in a Gallup poll last fall worried about exposure to the West Nile virus, and 45 percent in January 2001 worried about mad cow disease becoming a problem here.

High-intensity concern, moreover, is lower: Only one in 10 are worried "a great deal" about getting SARS.

The World Health Organization reports 2,270 reported cases and 79 deaths from SARS in 16 countries. The CDC reported today that as of April 3, there are 115 U.S. cases in 27 states.

Sampling, data collection and tabulation for this poll were done by TNS Intersearch.

Those Following Media More Worried

Reports of the disease are drawing broad attention. Seventy-four percent say they're following news about SARS — 26 percent "very" closely, 48 percent "somewhat" closely.

Level of attention is a big factor in fear of catching the virus. Fifty-eight percent of those following the news "very" closely express concern about being infected; among those who aren't tuned in, just 24 percent share that level of concern. An open question is whether they're worried because they're following the news closely; or following the news closely because they're worried.

Still, deep concern even among those very closely following the news is low: Twenty percent of these people say they're worried "a great deal" about getting SARS.

Concerned About Catching SARS Among those who watch the news "very closely" 58% Among those who watch the news "somewhat closely" 34% Among those not following the news closely 28%

Women are more likely to be following the news very closely—32 percent are, compared to 19 percent of men. Women are also nine points more likely to express concern that they or a family member will get the virus.

SARS vs. Terrorism

Fear of contracting the SARS virus is at about the same level as concern about being the victim of terrorism was in February — 34 percent were worried about being the victim of an attack, 10 percent worried "a great deal."

When the two are put head-to-head though, fear of terrorism has a slight edge. Forty-two percent are more concerned about being victims of terror than they are about catching SARS. Thirty-five percent fear SARS more. Fifteen percent of Americans say they're not worried about either.

Women are 12 points more likely to say they're more worried about terrorism; men divide about evenly.

People who are following news about SARS divide about evenly on whether their greater worry is the disease, or terrorism. But those not following the SARS news are 23 points more likely to be concerned about terrorism.

Methodology

This ABC News/Washington Post poll was conducted by telephone April 3, among a random national sample of 511 adults. The results have a 4.5-point error margin. Fieldwork was conducted by TNS Intersearch of Horsham, Pa.

Previous ABCNEWS polls can be found in our Poll Vault.