--- title: "Most Are Confident in Government’s Ability to Prevent Major Ebola Outbreak in U.S." description: "Survey Report As the Ebola outbreak in Africa continues, and two patients receive treatment in the U.S., most Americans have at least a fair amount of confidence in the government’s ability to prevent a major outbreak of Ebola in the U.S. In addition, relatively few are concerned that they or a family member will be […]" date: "2014-10-06" authors: - name: "Pew Research Center" url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2014/10/06/most-are-confident-in-governments-ability-to-prevent-major-ebola-outbreak-in-u-s/" categories: - "Federal Government" - "Health Policy" - "Medicine & Health" datasets: - name: "October 2-5 2014 Weekly Survey" url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/dataset/october-2-5-2014-weekly-survey/" --- # Most Are Confident in Government’s Ability to Prevent Major Ebola Outbreak in U.S. ## Table of Contents 1. [Most Are Confident in Government’s Ability to Prevent Major Ebola Outbreak in U.S.](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2014/10/06/most-are-confident-in-governments-ability-to-prevent-major-ebola-outbreak-in-u-s/markdown) - [Republicans Less Confident in Gov’t Ability to Prevent Ebola Outbreak](#republicans-less-confident-in-govt-ability-to-prevent-ebola-outbreak) - [Blacks, Hispanics More Concerned about Exposure to Ebola](#blacks-hispanics-more-concerned-about-exposure-to-ebola) 2. [About the Survey](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2014/10/06/about-the-survey-115/markdown) ## Survey Report As the Ebola outbreak in Africa continues, and two patients receive treatment in the U.S., most Americans have at least a fair amount of confidence in the government’s ability to prevent a major outbreak of Ebola in the U.S. In addition, relatively few are concerned that they or a family member will be exposed to the virus. [![So Far, No Evidence of Widespread Alarm over Ebola](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/10/10-6-2014_01.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2014/10/06/most-are-confident-in-governments-ability-to-prevent-major-ebola-outbreak-in-u-s/10-6-2014_01/) The new national survey by the Pew Research Center, conducted Oct. 2-5 among 1,007 adults, finds that 20% say they have a “great deal” of confidence in the federal government to prevent a major outbreak of Ebola in the U.S., while another 38% say they have a “fair amount” of confidence. Fewer than half express “not too much confidence” (24%) or “no confidence at all” (17%) in the government to prevent a major Ebola outbreak. So far, the Ebola virus has not led to widespread concern about personal health: Just 11% are very worried that they or someone in their family will be exposed to the virus, while another 21% are somewhat worried. Two-thirds say they are either not too (37%) or not at all worried (30%) about contracting Ebola. Public concern over the possibility of contracting the Ebola virus is lower than for other recent public health threats. In August 2009, 45% were worried about the possibility of being exposed to swine flu, and in November 2005, 38% worried about contracting bird flu. ### Republicans Less Confident in Gov’t Ability to Prevent Ebola Outbreak Republicans are much more skeptical than Democrats and independents about the government’s ability to prevent a major Ebola outbreak in the U.S. [![Shifting Partisan Views of Federal Government’s Handling of Health Crises ](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/10/10-6-2014_02.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2014/10/06/most-are-confident-in-governments-ability-to-prevent-major-ebola-outbreak-in-u-s/10-6-2014_02/) By more than two-to-one, more Democrats say they have a great deal or fair amount of confidence in the government to deal with Ebola (69%) than not much or no confidence at all (28%). Independents also are confident in the government’s ability to prevent an Ebola outbreak in the U.S. (56% vs. 42%). Republicans are divided: About as many say they have little or no confidence (51%) in the federal government to prevent a major Ebola outbreak as say they have a great deal or fair amount of confidence (48%). In November 2005, amid concerns over an outbreak of bird flu, Republicans were far more confident than Democrats in the government’s ability to prevent a major outbreak. At that time, shortly after the Bush administration was widely criticized for its response to Hurricane Katrina, 74% of Republicans and just 35% of Democrats expressed confidence in the government’s ability to deal with a possible bird flu outbreak. ### Blacks, Hispanics More Concerned about Exposure to Ebola [![Ebola Concern Higher among Non-Whites, Women, Less Educated](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/10/10-6-2014_03.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2014/10/06/most-are-confident-in-governments-ability-to-prevent-major-ebola-outbreak-in-u-s/10-6-2014_03/) Nearly half of blacks (47%) and 39% of Hispanics say they are very or somewhat worried about being exposed to the Ebola virus. By contrast, just 27% of whites are worried about getting the virus. Women (37%) are somewhat more concerned than men (27%) that they or someone in their family will be exposed to Ebola. Concern over Ebola exposure is higher among those with less education. Only about one-in-five college graduates (22%) say they are worried about being exposed to the Ebola virus. By comparison, 34% of those with some college experience and 38% of those with no more than a high school diploma say they are worried that they may contract Ebola. --- **Next:** [About the Survey](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2014/10/06/about-the-survey-115.md)