Printed: 2022-07-29
Writer: Annenberg Public Coverage Heart of the College of Pennsylvania | Contact: upenn.edu
Peer-Reviewed Publication: Sure
Synopsis: Whereas many People are typically conversant in monkeypox, vital components of the general public lack essential details about the illness – and methods to defend themselves. Carried out amid escalating circumstances of the coronavirus BA.5 omicron subvariant and the unfold of monkeypox circumstances, the survey discovered that many individuals (80%) had seen, learn, or heard one thing about monkeypox prior to now month, however many lacked information concerning the illness Most People reject conspiracy theories alleging that monkeypox was bioengineered in a lab or was deliberately launched. Nevertheless, right here, too, the Annenberg ASK survey discovered that alarming numbers have both accepted one in every of 4 conspiracy theories or are not sure whether or not they’re true or false.
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Definition
- Monkeypox
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Monkeypox is a zoonotic pox virus an infection that may happen in each people and another animals. Monkeypox in people and animals is attributable to an infection with the monkeypox virus – a double-stranded DNA virus within the genus Orthopoxvirus, household Poxviridae. Two acknowledged distinct varieties are described because the Congo Basin clade and the milder West African clade.
Fundamental Digest
As Covid-19 circumstances surge throughout the USA dominated by a extremely transmissible subvariant and fear about Covid persists, some within the public have begun to voice concern concerning the new well being risk of monkeypox, in response to a brand new Annenberg Public Coverage Heart(1) nationwide survey.
Whereas 1 in 3 People fear about getting Covid-19 within the subsequent three months, in response to the July survey, almost 1 in 5 are involved about contracting monkeypox, a illness endemic in components of Africa whose unfold to 75 nations throughout the globe led the World Well being Group (WHO) to declare a world well being emergency on July 23, days after the survey was accomplished.
The nationally consultant panel of 1,580 U.S. adults surveyed by SSRS(2) for the Annenberg Public Coverage Heart (APPC) of the College of Pennsylvania from July 12-18, 2022, was the seventh wave of an Annenberg Science Information (ASK)(3) survey whose respondents had been first empaneled in April 2021. The margin of sampling error (MOE) is ± 3.3 proportion factors on the 95% confidence degree. See appendix(4) and methodology(5) for added info.
The survey solutions such questions as:
How frightened is the general public about changing into contaminated with Covid-19 or monkeypox?
Does the general public possess a primary information about monkeypox?
How widespread is misinformation about monkeypox?
Highlights
Carried out amid escalating circumstances of the coronavirus BA.5 omicron subvariant and the unfold of monkeypox circumstances, the survey discovered that many individuals (80%) had seen, learn, or heard one thing about monkeypox prior to now month, however many lacked information concerning the illness:
- 19% of People are frightened about getting monkeypox within the subsequent three months.
- 30% of these surveyed are frightened about getting Covid-19 over the subsequent three months.
- Almost half (48%) are not sure whether or not monkeypox is much less contagious than Covid.
- Two-thirds (66%) both usually are not certain or don’t imagine there’s a vaccine for monkeypox.
“It is vital that the general public calibrate its considerations to the truth of the danger of Covid-19 and monkeypox and act appropriately,” stated Kathleen Corridor Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Coverage Heart.
Monkeypox Issues
Monkeypox, a uncommon illness attributable to an orthopoxvirus, is a much less lethal member of the identical household of viruses as smallpox, in response to(6) the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC). The illness, found in 1958, is usually characterised by rashes, in response to the CDC, and is transmitted(7) person-to-person by direct contact with the infectious rash, scabs, or physique fluids, respiratory secretions, touching gadgets that touched the infectious physique fluid, by a pregnant particular person to a fetus by way of the placenta, or to and from contaminated animals. (For extra info see this Q&A(8) on monkeypox by APPC’s FactCheck.org(9))
Within the present monkeypox outbreak, about 2,900 circumstances had been reported in the USA as of June 22, and greater than 16,000 circumstances have been reported in 75 nations, in response to the WHO.
Among the many survey findings:
- Fear about contracting monkeypox: About 1 in 5 of these surveyed (19%) are considerably (14%) or very frightened (5%) about getting monkeypox within the subsequent three months, whereas 81% usually are not too (41%) or by no means frightened (40%).
- Ladies are extra frightened about contracting monkeypox than males: Although the overwhelming majority of circumstances thus far in the USA are amongst males who’ve intercourse with males, 23% of ladies fear about contracting monkeypox vs. 15% of males.
- Covid-19: Extra People (30%) fear about getting Covid within the subsequent three months, with 24% considerably frightened and 6% very frightened.
- Ladies are additionally extra frightened about Covid-19 than males: 33% of ladies are frightened about contracting Covid vs. 27% of males.
Chart exhibits fear about contracting monkeypox or Covid-19 over the subsequent three months. Requested of 1,580 adults on the Annenberg Public Coverage Heart ASK survey, July 12-18, 2022 – Picture Credit score: Annenberg Public Coverage Heart.
Monkeypox Information
Whereas many People are typically conversant in monkeypox, vital components of the general public lack vital details about the illness – and methods to defend themselves:
- Figuring out how monkeypox spreads: A big majority (69%) is aware of that monkeypox often spreads by shut contact with an contaminated particular person. Nevertheless, 1 / 4 of these surveyed (26%) are not sure whether or not that’s true or false.
- Most have no idea a monkeypox vaccine exists: In all, 2 in 3 People (66%) both usually are not certain (51%) whether or not a vaccine for monkeypox exists or don’t suppose it exists in any respect (15%). One in 3 folks (34%) accurately know {that a} vaccine for monkeypox exists. The Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) has licensed(10) a vaccine for stopping monkeypox an infection, and a vaccine licensed for smallpox can be obtainable to stop monkeypox an infection, in response to the CDC.
- Which is extra contagious: Monkeypox or Covid? Greater than a 3rd of these surveyed (36%) know that monkeypox is much less contagious than Covid-19. However 14% incorrectly say monkeypox is nearly as contagious as Covid-19, and almost half (48%) are not sure. The CDC says(11) monkeypox “will not be recognized to linger within the air and isn’t transmitted throughout quick intervals of shared airspace” however by way of direct contact with an contaminated particular person or supplies which have touched physique fluids or sores or by way of respiratory secretions throughout “shut, face-to-face contact.” An infectious illness professional, Anne Rimoin, informed Vox(12) that monkeypox is “not as extremely transmissible as one thing like smallpox, or measles, or definitely not Covid.”
- Monkeypox and the Covid-19 vaccine: Most individuals (67%) say they suppose that getting a Covid-19 vaccine doesn’t enhance the probability of getting monkeypox, although over 1 / 4 of respondents (28%) usually are not certain. There is no such thing as a proof to recommend that is true.
- Are individuals who have had Covid-19 at larger threat? A 3rd of individuals (33%) report that having had Covid-19 doesn’t in itself put one at the next threat of an infection with monkeypox, although almost two-thirds (63%) usually are not certain if that is true. There is no such thing as a proof to recommend that having had Covid will increase the danger of contracting monkeypox.
- Greater threat for folks working with animals? Requested if the CDC advises that individuals who work with animals are at the next threat of monkeypox, lower than 1 in 10 respondents (9%) say sure. A 3rd (34%) say no, whereas over half (57%) are not sure. Though the present outbreak entails human-to-human transmission, a 2003 outbreak in domesticated prairie canine led to 47 U.S. human circumstances. Monkeypox can infect(13) a variety of mammals, together with monkeys, anteaters, hedgehogs, prairie canine, squirrels, and shrews. Contaminated animals can unfold the virus to folks, and it’s doable that people who find themselves contaminated can unfold the virus to animals(14), says the CDC, which lists amongst higher-risk individuals who may think about vaccination(15) “laboratory staff who deal with tradition or animals with orthopoxviruses.”
- Greater threat for males who’ve intercourse with males? When requested whether or not the CDC advises that males who’ve intercourse with males are at the next threat of an infection with monkeypox, a 3rd of these surveyed (33%) stated sure. Two-thirds (66%) both stated that is false or they didn’t know. The WHO says circumstances outdoors Africa on this outbreak have been primarily(16) amongst males having intercourse with males whereas cautioning that there isn’t any proof(17) to recommend it’s going to stay confined inside these teams. In a Washington Publish interview(18), CDC Director Rochelle Walensky stated males who’ve intercourse with males are “the group most in danger.”
“The time to cut back susceptibility to misinformation about monkeypox is now,” Jamieson stated. “It’s critically vital that public well being professionals provide anxious people correct details about the methods through which this virus is transmitted and an infection prevented. Vaccinating those that are at highest threat ought to be a nationwide precedence.”
Monkeypox Misinformation and Conspiracy Theories
“As one would count on, conspiracy theorists have integrated monkeypox into their pre-existing beliefs that, as a substitute of rising by way of pure processes, a spreading virus will need to have been bioengineered, deliberately launched to perform a political goal, or is the byproduct of publicity to a pervasive new know-how akin to 5G,” stated Jamieson.
Most People reject conspiracy theories alleging that monkeypox was bioengineered in a lab or was deliberately launched. Nevertheless, right here, too, the Annenberg ASK survey discovered that alarming numbers have both accepted one in every of 4 conspiracy theories or are not sure whether or not they’re true or false.
- Bioengineered in a lab: Over half of these surveyed (54%) reject as false the concept that monkeypox was bioengineered in a lab, although a 3rd (34%) usually are not certain if that’s true or false, and 12% say that is in all probability or undoubtedly true. There is no such thing as a proof of this.
- Of the small minority who imagine that monkeypox was bioengineered in a lab, 56% say the lab was in China; 16% say the USA; 15% Russia; 12% another nation.
- Intentional launch (requested of a half-sample, MOE = ± 4.7 proportion factors): Over half (56%) stated that it was undoubtedly or in all probability false to state that monkeypox was deliberately launched, although 30% weren’t certain, and 14% thought that was in all probability or undoubtedly true. There is no such thing as a proof of this.
- Launched to assist Biden (requested of a half-sample, MOE = ± 4.7 proportion factors): 71% reject as false the assertion that monkeypox was deliberately launched by scientists to deflect consideration from the failures of the Biden administration. Nevertheless, 19% stated they had been not sure whether or not that is true or false, and 10% stated it was in all probability or undoubtedly true. There is no such thing as a proof of this.
- Brought on by publicity to 5G: A big majority (78%) accurately stated it’s false to claim that monkeypox is attributable to publicity to a 5G sign, although 21% had been not sure.
See the appendix(19) and methodology(20) for added info. Examine prior Annenberg Science Information(21) surveys.
The Annenberg Public Coverage Heart(22) (APPC) was established in 1993 to coach the general public and policymakers about communication’s function in advancing public understanding of political, scientific, and well being points on the native, state, and federal ranges. APPC is the house of FactCheck.org(23) and its SciCheck program, whose Covid-19/Vaccination Mission(24) seeks to debunk misinformation about Covid-19 and vaccines and enhance publicity to correct info.
References:
- (1) – https://www.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org/
- (2) – https://ssrs.com/
- (3) – https://www.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org/science-communication/ask/
- (4) – https://cdn.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/APPC_W7_Appendix_July_2022.pdf
- (5) – https://cdn.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/APPC_Wave_7_methodology_July_2022.pdf
- (6) – https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/about.html
- (7) – https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/transmission.html
- (8) – https://www.factcheck.org/2022/05/qa-on-monkeypox/
- (9) – https://www.factcheck.org/
- (10) – https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/considerations-for-monkeypox-vaccination.html
- (11) – https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/0509-monkeypox-transmission.html
- (12) – https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2022/5/19/23126248/monkeypox-infections-covid-outbreak-smallpox
- (13) – https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/veterinarian/monkeypox-in-animals.html
- (14) – https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/specific-settings/pets-in-homes.html
- (15) – https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/considerations-for-monkeypox-vaccination.html
- (16) – https://www.who.int/europe/emergencies/conditions/monkeypox
- (17) – https://www.cnbc.com/2022/07/25/who-monkeypox-could-spread-well-beyond-men-gay-bisexual-communities.html
- (18) – https://www.washingtonpost.com/washington-post-live/2022/07/22/transcript-coronavirus-new-variants-with-rochelle-walensky/
- (19) – https://cdn.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/APPC_W7_Appendix_July_2022.pdf
- (20) – https://cdn.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/APPC_Wave_7_methodology_July_2022.pdf
- (21) – https://www.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org/science-communication/ask/
- (22) – http://www.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org/
- (23) – https://www.factcheck.org/
- (24) – https://www.factcheck.org/covid-misconceptions/
Major Data Supply(s):
1 In 5 People Concern Getting Monkeypox | Annenberg Public Coverage Heart of the College of Pennsylvania (upenn.edu). Disabled World makes no warranties or representations in connection therewith. Content material might have been edited for type, readability or size.
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Cite This Web page (APA): Annenberg Public Coverage Heart of the College of Pennsylvania. (2022, July 29). 1 In 5 People Concern Getting Monkeypox. Disabled World. Retrieved August 28, 2022 from www.disabled-world.com/well being/monkeypox/monkeypox-fear.php
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