Poll: Misconceptions, confusion surround public understanding of Ebola's spread

Oct 17 2014

The survey, which was conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KHN is an editorially independent program of the foundation), found that 70 percent of U.S. adults say they are following news reports closely about the deadly virus. 

The Washington Post's Wonkblog: Ebola Is Scarier When You Don't Know How It's Spread
As Americans are becoming increasingly fearful of Ebola, there's still some pretty notable confusion about how the deadly virus is spread, according to new polling. Even though 70 percent of U.S. adults say they're closely following news about Ebola, just 36 percent know that a person infected with the deadly virus must be showing symptoms to transmit the infection to others, according to a new Kaiser Family Foundation Tracking Poll (Millman, 10/16).

Kaiser Health News: Capsules: Many Unaware How Ebola Is Spread 
The survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that while nearly all adults (97 percent) know a person can become infected through direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of someone who is sick with Ebola, there are still misconceptions. (KHN is an editorially independent program of the foundation.) One third of respondents are unaware they cannot become infected through the air. About 45 percent are unaware they cannot contract Ebola by shaking hands with someone who has been exposed to the virus but who does not have symptoms (Galewitz, 10/16).