Poll: Only 20% Have 'Great Deal' of Confidence in Feds to Prevent Ebola Outbreak

Though a majority of Americans have some amount of confidence that the federal government can prevent an Ebola outbreak, just 20 percent have a “great deal” of confidence in the Obama administration’s ability to contain the disease.

The survey, which was conducted Oct. 2-5, found that 38 percent of Americans have a “fair amount” of confidence in the federal government. Seventeen percent have “no confidence at all,” while 24 percent said there was “not too much confidence” in the government’s ability to prevent an outbreak. 

Thirty-two percent of Americans are either “very worried” or “somewhat worried” that “they or someone in their family will be exposed” to Ebola while 67 percent are “either not too (37 percent) or not at all worried (30 percent) about contracting Ebola.” Pew notes that “in August 2009, 45 percent were worried about the possibility of being exposed to swine flu, and in November 2005, 38 percent worried about contracting bird flu.”

Democrats (69 percent) “have a great deal or fair amount of confidence) have more confidence in the Obama administration to contain Ebola threat than either independents (56 percent) or Republicans (48 percent).