1 In 5 Americans Fear Getting Mpox

Author: Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania
Published: 2022/07/29 - Updated: 2024/04/24
Publication Type: Survey, Analysis
Peer-Reviewed: Yes
Topic: Mpox Virus - Publications List

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main

Synopsis: While many Americans are generally familiar with mpox, significant parts of the public lack critical information about the disease - and how to protect themselves.

Conducted amid escalating cases of the coronavirus BA.5 omicron subvariant and the spread of mpox cases, the survey found that many people (80%) had seen, read, or heard something about mpox in the past month, but many lacked knowledge about the disease

Most Americans reject conspiracy theories alleging that mpox was bioengineered in a lab or was intentionally released. However, here, too, the Annenberg ASK survey found that alarming numbers have either accepted one of four conspiracy theories or are unsure whether they are true or false.

Introduction

As Covid-19 cases surge across the United States dominated by a highly transmissible subvariant and worry about Covid persists, some in the public have begun to voice concern about the new health threat of mpox, according to a new Annenberg Public Policy Center national survey.

Main Item

While 1 in 3 Americans worry about getting Covid-19 in the next three months, according to the July survey, nearly 1 in 5 are concerned about contracting mpox, a disease endemic in parts of Africa whose spread to 75 countries across the globe led the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a global health emergency on July 23, days after the survey was completed.

The nationally representative panel of 1,580 U.S. adults surveyed by SSRS for the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) of the University of Pennsylvania from July 12-18, 2022, was the seventh wave of an Annenberg Science Knowledge (ASK) survey whose respondents were first empaneled in April 2021. The margin of sampling error (MOE) is ± 3.3 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. See appendix and methodology for additional information.

The survey answers such questions as:

Highlights

Conducted amid escalating cases of the coronavirus BA.5 omicron subvariant and the spread of mpox cases, the survey found that many people (80%) had seen, read, or heard something about mpox in the past month, but many lacked knowledge about the disease:

"It's important that the public calibrate its concerns to the reality of the risk of Covid-19 and mpox and act appropriately," said Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center.

Mpox Concerns

Mpox, a rare disease caused by an orthopoxvirus, is a less deadly member of the same family of viruses as smallpox, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The disease, discovered in 1958, is typically characterized by rashes, according to the CDC, and is transmitted person-to-person by direct contact with the infectious rash, scabs, or body fluids, respiratory secretions, touching items that touched the infectious body fluid, by a pregnant person to a fetus through the placenta, or to and from infected animals.

In the current mpox outbreak, about 2,900 cases were reported in the United States as of June 22, and more than 16,000 cases have been reported in 75 countries, according to the WHO.

Among the survey findings:

Continued below image.
Chart shows worry about contracting mpox or Covid-19 over the next three months. Asked of 1,580 adults on the Annenberg Public Policy Center ASK survey, July 12-18, 2022.
Chart shows worry about contracting mpox or Covid-19 over the next three months. Asked of 1,580 adults on the Annenberg Public Policy Center ASK survey, July 12-18, 2022 - Image Credit: Annenberg Public Policy Center.
Continued...

Mpox Knowledge

While many Americans are generally familiar with mpox, significant parts of the public lack important information about the disease - and how to protect themselves:

"The time to reduce susceptibility to misinformation about mpox is now," Jamieson said. "It is critically important that public health professionals offer anxious individuals accurate information about the ways in which this virus is transmitted and infection prevented. Vaccinating those who are at highest risk should be a national priority."

Mpox Misinformation and Conspiracy Theories

"As one would expect, conspiracy theorists have incorporated mpox into their pre-existing beliefs that, instead of emerging through natural processes, a spreading virus must have been bioengineered, intentionally released to accomplish a political objective, or is the byproduct of exposure to a pervasive new technology such as 5G," said Jamieson.

Most Americans reject conspiracy theories alleging that mpox was bioengineered in a lab or was intentionally released. However, here, too, the Annenberg ASK survey found that alarming numbers have either accepted one of four conspiracy theories or are unsure whether they are true or false.

Attribution/Source(s): This peer reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania and published on 2022/07/29, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity. For further details or clarifications, Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania can be contacted at upenn.edu NOTE: Disabled World does not provide any warranties or endorsements related to this article.

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Citing Information and Page References

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Cite This Page (APA): Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. (2022, July 29 - Last revised: 2024, April 24). 1 In 5 Americans Fear Getting Mpox. Disabled World (DW). Retrieved February 17, 2025 from www.disabled-world.com/health/monkeypox/monkeypox-fear.php

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