Poll: Americans split over officials' handling of bird flu

There's widespread belief that birds will become infected in this country in the next year.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Their expectations shaken by Katrina, Americans are divided over whether the government is likely to do a good job handling the bird flu if it reaches the U.S., a poll finds. People want a resolute response that includes quarantines if Americans do become infected.
The AP-Ipsos survey, out Friday, found widespread belief that birds will become infected in this country in the next year, as the government has predicted. One-third worry someone in their family will get the bird flu.
Fear is certain to spread if the virus is found in the United States: Half the people questioned said they thought the bird flu would kill them if they contracted it. Among the most concerned: women, older people, minorities, poorer people and the less educated.
The actual chances of death from the virulent strain of the bird flu spreading through Asia, Europe and Africa are not known, mainly because there is no way to tell how many contract the virus. It's possible some who get it recover without the virus even being detected.
Deaths
Among the 204 known cases so far overseas since 2003, 113 people have died, according to new World Health Organization figures Friday.
The poll found only one in 10 people has prepared for an outbreak in any way despite federal recommendations that Americans make contingency plans to work from home, to deal with school closings and put away at least modest amounts of food and water for any emergency.
Americans are far from reassured that if an outbreak among humans happens, the government can control it.
In the poll, 52 percent said they were not confident the government would handle an outbreak among humans properly; 48 percent were confident. About six in 10 expect U.S. birds to become infected.
The poll of 1,001 adults was conducted Tuesday to Thursday with a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
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