NEW YORK – The latest FOX News poll finds that the public's concern over bird flu (search) is not matched by confidence in the government's readiness to respond to the virus. More than six in 10 Americans say they are concerned about the spread of avian or bird flu in the United States (30 percent "very" and 33 percent "somewhat" concerned), while just over a third think the government is prepared to deal with a potential outbreak (6 percent "very" and 29 percent "somewhat" prepared).
Many Americans (65 percent) think the bird flu is serious enough to merit giving the president the authority to use the military to enforce quarantines if the strain becomes widespread.
Finally, opinion is mixed on which poses the greater threat — the terrorists or the birds: 32 percent of Americans say they are more concerned about being the victim of a terrorist attack, while 29 percent are more concerned about catching the bird flu, 13 percent say both equally and 23 percent say neither concerns them.
Opinion Dynamics Corporation conducted the national telephone poll of 900 registered voters for FOX News on October 11-12.
• PDF: Click here for full poll results.
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