U.S. anthrax response undermined by public ignorance, lack of confidence in government
A Harvard School of Public Health’s survey found that nearly 40 percent of respondents who said they would likely accept antibiotic pills distributed from public health authorities after an anthrax attack also said they would not start taking them immediately; about 35 percent indicated they would hold onto the drugs until they knew for certain they had been exposed to anthrax
Many U.S. citizens would fail to use antibiotics correctly in the wake of an anthrax-based bioterrorism attack, potentially compromising efforts to limit casualties, according to researchers who conducted a poll on the topic. Nearly 40 percent of respondents who said they would likely accept antibiotic pills distributed from public health authorities after an attack also said they would not start taking them immediately, according to pollster Robert Blendon, Ph.D., of the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH), and colleagues.
About 35 percent indicated they would hold onto the drugs until they knew for certain they had been exposed to anthrax, and another 4 percent would simply hoard them, the poll of 2,625 adults found.
John Gever writes in MediaPageToday that The poll, conducted in December 2009, also revealed widespread misunderstanding and fear of anthrax and antibiotic treatment.
“As these results show, clear communication with the public, in the context of what could be a frightening and catastrophic event, should be a critical priority,” said Blendon in a statement released by Harvard.
Blendon and colleagues polled 1,092 individuals across the nation, plus about 500 each from the New York City and Washington, D.C. metro areas and from Trenton and Mercer counties in New Jersey.
The telephone poll described scenarios of a future anthrax attack and asked respondents about their likely responses.
The poll also addressed confidence in government: nationally, some 18 percent to 33 percent of respondents said they had little or no trust in top federal officials such as the president and Health and Human Services secretary to provide good information in response to an anthrax attack.
Nearly a third also distrusted their state governors and local mayors, although state and local public health department directors fared somewhat better.
Federal officials enjoyed somewhat more confidence in New York, Washington, and Trenton/Mercer compared with the national group. Local authorities, by and large, did not.
