Flu Fight

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Manitobans think province set for H1N1

By: Staff Writer

Posted: 10/21/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

A recent survey has found Manitobans believe the province is ready to deal with the H1N1 flu pandemic.

While provincial health officials admitted Monday the latest phase of the H1N1 pandemic has begun, the survey Jory Capital-Probe Research Inc. survey found 72 per cent of Manitobans believes the province is equipped to deal with the outbreak.

The survey found that 15 per cent of respondents said the province is "very well prepared," and 57 per cent said the province is "somewhat well prepared."

But the survey found 25 per cent do not believe the province is ready -- 19 per cent of respondents said the province is "not very well prepared" and six per cent said the province is "not at all prepared."

Respondents said they are personally taking steps to protect themselves from contacting H1N1: 64 per cent are washing their hands more frequently; 25 per cent are using hand sanitizer to stop the spread of germs; 19 per cent are coughing or sneezing into their sleeves; 14 per cent are avoiding public places or large gatherings; and 8 per cent are staying home from work when sick.

The survey found that one per cent are taking more severe measures, such as refraining from shaking hands or wearing surgical masks and gloves.

What was asked

THE province-wide survey was conducted by Probe Research between Sept. 14 and Sept. 28, with telephone interviews of 1,000 adult Manitobans. It's considerate accurate to within 3.1 percentage points.

Respondents were asked the following questions:

"Recently, there has been a lot of discussion about the H1N1 virus, also known as the swine flu. Some people expect that many more Manitobans will come into contact with the H1N1 virus in the fall, when the flu season starts again. Based on what you have seen, read or heard, how well prepared would you say that Manitobans are to prevent the virus from spreading to one another during the next flu season?"

"Thinking about the time that has passed since the outbreak of the H1N1 virus, can you give me an examples of things you've done to avoid catching or possibly spreading the virus? Any other example?"

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 21, 2009 A6

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