KC
Moderator
May 01, 2006 04:42 PM US Eastern Timezone
More than Half of U.S. Physicians Believe Bird Flu will Achieve Human Transmission within Four Years
FLEMINGTON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 1, 2006--A new national survey of 656 physicians revealed that more than half of physicians (56%) believe that the Avian Bird Flu will achieve human transmission within four years in the U.S.
The national survey was conducted by HCD Research during April 6-7, to obtain the views of physicians on a potential bird flu pandemic within the U.S.
Among the findings:
-- A large majority of physicians (65%) believe that the avian bird flu will achieve human transmission within the next 72 months, while 61% feel it will happen in the next 60 months and 56% think it will occur within 48 months. However, fewer physicians (14%) feel the spread of avian flu will come about within the next year.
-- 34% of physicians consider the administration of an experimental vaccine for bird flu to 20 million people in the U.S. would be likely to help prevent a pandemic from occurring within the country. Conversely, 51% of physicians believe the vaccine would be unlikely to help prevent a pandemic and 15% remain neutral.
-- Nearly one quarter of physicians (24%) think there is likely to be a successful distribution of an efficacious vaccine that will immunize enough people in the U.S. to protect against a large-scale transmission of a human-to-human form of the avian flu during the next 24 months. However, the majority of physicians (65%) reported that the distribution of a vaccine to be unlikely and 12% remain neutral.
-- More than half of physicians (53%) do not worry much or at all about themselves or someone in their immediate family contracting the bird flu, while 39% worry somewhat and 7% worry a great deal.
"The results of our study indicate that while the majority of physicians believe that the avian bird flu will be successful at achieving human-to-human transmission, it will not occur within the next year or two," commented Glenn Kessler, co-founder and managing partner, HCD Research.
To view detailed results for the physicians' poll, please go to: http://publish.hcdhealth.com/P1014/
More than Half of U.S. Physicians Believe Bird Flu will Achieve Human Transmission within Four Years
FLEMINGTON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 1, 2006--A new national survey of 656 physicians revealed that more than half of physicians (56%) believe that the Avian Bird Flu will achieve human transmission within four years in the U.S.
The national survey was conducted by HCD Research during April 6-7, to obtain the views of physicians on a potential bird flu pandemic within the U.S.
Among the findings:
-- A large majority of physicians (65%) believe that the avian bird flu will achieve human transmission within the next 72 months, while 61% feel it will happen in the next 60 months and 56% think it will occur within 48 months. However, fewer physicians (14%) feel the spread of avian flu will come about within the next year.
-- 34% of physicians consider the administration of an experimental vaccine for bird flu to 20 million people in the U.S. would be likely to help prevent a pandemic from occurring within the country. Conversely, 51% of physicians believe the vaccine would be unlikely to help prevent a pandemic and 15% remain neutral.
-- Nearly one quarter of physicians (24%) think there is likely to be a successful distribution of an efficacious vaccine that will immunize enough people in the U.S. to protect against a large-scale transmission of a human-to-human form of the avian flu during the next 24 months. However, the majority of physicians (65%) reported that the distribution of a vaccine to be unlikely and 12% remain neutral.
-- More than half of physicians (53%) do not worry much or at all about themselves or someone in their immediate family contracting the bird flu, while 39% worry somewhat and 7% worry a great deal.
"The results of our study indicate that while the majority of physicians believe that the avian bird flu will be successful at achieving human-to-human transmission, it will not occur within the next year or two," commented Glenn Kessler, co-founder and managing partner, HCD Research.
To view detailed results for the physicians' poll, please go to: http://publish.hcdhealth.com/P1014/
