About 40% of female junior and senior high school students believe the fuss over the new strain of influenza is an overreaction
After the first cases of novel influenza A (H1N1) infection were discovered among high school students in the Kansai region, many schools took measures to close classes, and school trips were canceled or postponed one after another.
However, Visual Works, a company that produces media content for mobile phones, conducted a survey of female junior and senior high school students and found that about 40% of them thought the fuss over the new strain of influenza was an overreaction.
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The survey was conducted on Forest Page, a free website creation site, and targeted 1,500 female junior and senior high school students.
Only 2% of people have no idea about the new influenza, but 33% know what the disease is and how to prevent it.
22% of people are not doing anything in particular to prevent the spread of the virus. Many people appear to be taking some kind of precaution, such as 'avoiding crowds' and 'gargling and washing their hands.' Minority responses included 'avoiding touching the area around your eyes and mouth unnecessarily when you're out,' 'stockpiling food,' and 'running away immediately if someone sneezes.'
When asked about changes they have experienced around them, over half of respondents said they have become more interested in the news. Some also said they have stopped buying buffet-style side dishes at the supermarket, and that they have been refused access to public facilities.
Regarding opinions on the new strain of influenza, about 40% of people have doubts about the response and TV coverage, saying, 'It's just a weak virulence so I don't understand why people are making such a fuss,' 'The media is making too much of a fuss!' and 'Compared to other countries, I feel like Japan is overreacting too much.' Some people also pointed out the lack of a sense of crisis, saying, 'I can't understand why people are going on overseas trips when there have been deaths,' and 'There's no point in closing schools if people are going out.'
In any case, the WHO's pandemic alert level for influenza A (H1N1) is currently at level 5, and the situation remains one of imminent pandemic, so please be careful to avoid infection.
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