Volume 14, Number 12—December 2008
Letter
Knowledge about Avian Influenza, European Region
Elias Mossialos and Caroline Rudisill
Table
Knowledge of human risks associated with avian influenza, European region, 2006*
| For each of the following statements tell me whether, in your opinion, it is true or false: |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission risks | Response, no. (%) |
||
| True | False | Don’t know | |
| The avian influenza virus can be transmitted between humans | 9,864 (33.8) | 16,574 (56.8) | 2,732 (9.4) |
| Humans can catch avian influenza by touching contaminated birds |
22,722 (77.9) |
4,473 (15.3) |
1,975 (6.8) |
| Food-related risks | |||
| Even when it is contaminated, poultry is not a health risk if it is cooked | 17,906 (61.4) | 8,536 (29.3) | 2,728 (9.4) |
| The avian influenza virus contained in an egg or present on its shell can be eliminated by prolonged cooking | 17,369 (59.5) | 6,593 (22.6) | 5,208 (17.9) |
| It is not dangerous to eat the meat of a chicken vaccinated against avian
influenza |
12,833 (44.0) |
9,272 (31.8) |
7,065 (24.2) |
| Other | |||
| The vaccination against seasonal influenza is also effective against avian influenza | 4,265 (14.6) | 20,847 (71.5) | 4,058 (13.9) |
| If a chicken is contaminated by avian influenza on a farm, all the poultry on that farm must be destroyed immediately | 24,492 (84.0) | 2,725 (9.3) | 1,953 (6.7) |
*Source: Eurobarometer 65.2 (http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/eb/eb65/eb65_ee_exec.pdf). Information in boldface refers to the correct answer.
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