Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 30, 2026

A Luciferase-fluorescent Reporter Influenza Virus for Live Imaging and Quantification of Viral Infection
Published on: August 14, 2019
Community knowledge, risk perception, and preparedness for the 2009 influenza A/H1N1 pandemic
Megan Jehn1, Yushim Kim, Barrie Bradley
1School of Human Evolution & Social Change, Decision Theater, Global Institute of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85821-2402, USA. megan.jehn@asu.edu
Objective:
To examine public knowledge, perceptions, and preparedness for the 2009 influenza A/H1N1 pandemic.
Design:
We conducted a telephone survey of selected households in Arizona during the month of October 2009.
Results:
Among the 727 households interviewed, one-third (34%) were not aware that the terms swine flu and H1N1 refer to the same virus. Many believed that it is more difficult to contract 2009 H1N1 (27%) than seasonal influenza (14%). About three-quarters of respondents perceived the H1N1 situation as urgent (76%), but only about one-third of those surveyed believed a family member would get sick with H1N1 within a year (35%). Approximately half (53%) of those surveyed intended to get the H1N1 influenza vaccine. Family doctors, television news, and local public health officials were the most trusted sources for H1N1 information.
Conclusions:
The survey highlighted a number of important misconceptions about H1N1 knowledge, treatment options and transmissibility. Increased efforts should be made to understand how messages are transmitted and received in the community during a pandemic to improve risk communication plans moving forward.
Related Concept Videos
Infectious Diseases and Their Occurrence
Influenza
Steps in Outbreak Investigation
Preparedness and Phobias
Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin create...

