Finns satisfied with preparations taken by officials for bird flu

Overwhelming majority do not expect pandemic to break out

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Finns seem to be largely satisfied with the preparations that have been instituted against bird flu, and with measures aimed at fighting a possible pandemic in the future.
      According to a poll commissioned by Helsingin Sanomat and conducted by Suomen Gallup, 86 percent of Finns feel that preparations taken by officials have been appropriate.
      Respondents are generally very satisfied with the official response to the threat regardless of age, gender, or place of residence. Only six percent felt that the measures are excessive, and five percent fear that they are inadequate.
      The measures implemented so far are met with the greatest approval among those with the most extensive education base.
      Finns tend to be very sceptical about the prospect of an outbreak of a pandemic caused by a mutation of the H5N1 virus, which would allow it spread among humans.
      Although officials tend to see a pandemic mutation as being quite possible, 69 percent of respondents to the survey see such a development as very, or fairly unlikely.
     
Young people tend to believe in a flu pandemic more than those in older age groups. Among those aged 15 to 24, 14 percent feel that it is fairly likely or very likely that the bird flu will turn into a pandemic among humans.
      Students and entrepreneurs are most likely to take the threat seriously.
      Among high-ranking white collar workers and those in management positions, more than 70 percent felt that a pandemic is unlikely.
      Supporters of the Green League believed in the likelihood of a mutation of the virus causing a pandemic more than supporters of other parties. Only one in ten supporters of the National Coalition Party felt that a pandemic was fairly or very likely.
     
The poll also showed that Finns are much more critical toward the media than toward government officials. Nearly half felt that the media has spread a disproportionate amount of fear over bird flu, considering the risk that Finland now faces.
      Only about one in three felt that officials had gone overboard in their dissemination of information.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Bird flu precaution: Helsinki to ban open-air cafes at open markets (9.3.2006)
  Finland to vaccinate whole population if bird flu pandemic breaks out (16.3.2006)
  Bird flu expected in Finland in about two weeks (10.3.2006)
  Finland considers changing bird flu vaccine (8.3.2996)
  Bird flu moving faster than anticipated; contingency plans for dead birds among migrating flocks (2.3.2006)
  Over 500 calls to bird flu hotline (22.2.2006)
  Bird flu scenario: Over 1.8 million Finns would catch virus if pandemic breaks out (13.1.2006)
  nland prepares to vaccinate entire population against avian flu (29.9.2005)

Helsingin Sanomat