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CBS NEWS POLL

For release: Wednesday, October 29, 2014
7:00 AM EDT


**Embargoed Until Wednesday, October 29
th
at 7:00 am EDT**
Confronting the Threat of Ebola in the U.S.
October 23-27, 2014

Eight in 10 Americans support quarantine for U.S. citizens and legal residents returning
from West Africa.

Most also think foreign visitors from West Africa should be quarantined, and more than a
quarter dont think they should be allowed into the country at all.

56% of Americans dont think the federal government is prepared for a large Ebola
outbreak, and 66% dont think their own local hospital is prepared.

Six in 10 Americans are at least somewhat concerned about a large outbreak of Ebola in
the U.S., though just 32% are very concerned. Most dont think it is likely that they or a
family member will get Ebola.

Quarantine on Travelers from West Africa

Americans overwhelmingly support quarantine for travelers arriving from West Africa. 80% think
U.S. citizens and legal residents returning from West Africa should be quarantined upon their
arrival in the U.S. until it is certain they dont have Ebola. Just 17% think they should be allowed
to enter as long as they do not show symptoms of Ebola.

What Should Happen to U.S. Citizens
Returning from West Africa?
Allowed to enter if no symptoms 17%
Quarantined upon arrival 80

Polling began on the evening of October 23
rd
, the night Dr. Craig Spencer became the first U.S.
citizen to be diagnosed with Ebola inside the United States after contracting the disease in West
Africa.

Americans are even more stringent when it comes to foreign visitors from West Africa. Just
14% think foreign visitors should be allowed to enter the U.S. as long as they show no
symptoms of Ebola. Most - 56% - think they should be quarantined upon arrival, while just over
a quarter (27%) doesnt think they should be allowed to enter the U.S. at all until the Ebola
epidemic in West Africa is over.

What Should Happen to Foreign U.S. Visitors
from West Africa?
Allowed to enter if no symptoms 14%
Quarantined upon arrival 56
Not allowed to enter 27


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Is the U.S. Prepared?

Americans continue to show concern that the federal government is not adequately prepared to
deal with an outbreak of Ebola in the United States. 56% do not think the federal government is
adequately prepared, and 66% feel the same way about their own local hospital.

Are They Prepared to Deal with
an Outbreak of Ebola in the U.S.?
Federal Government Your local hospital
Yes, prepared 39% 28%
No, not prepared 56 66

61% of Americans are at least somewhat concerned that there will be a large outbreak of Ebola
inside the United States within the next twelve months. Still, the percentage of Americans who
are very concerned has dropped eight points, from 40% at the beginning of the month to 32%
now.

Concern About an Outbreak of Ebola in the U.S.
Now 10/8/2014
Very concerned 32% 40%
Somewhat concerned 29 29
Not very concerned 22 20
Not at all concerned 16 10

And few Americans believe they or their family are directly at risk. 83% of Americans dont think
it is likely that they or a member of their family will get Ebola, including 52% who say it is not
likely at all.

Likelihood You or a Family Member Will Get Ebola
Very likely 3%
Somewhat likely 11
Not too likely 31
Not at all likely 52

Rating the President and the CDC

Americans evaluations of President Barack Obamas handling of the threat of Ebola are more
positive than negative. 47% approve of how hes handling this issue, while fewer 41% -
disapprove. Assessment on this measure is largely partisan, with 64% of Republicans
disapproving of how the President is handling it and 71% of Democrats approving.
Independents are split down the middle.

President Obamas Handling of the Ebola Threat
Total Reps Dems Inds
Approve 47% 23% 71% 43%
Disapprove 41 64 21 43

Americans are not as optimistic about the federal agency that is responsible for dealing with
public health threats. Americans give the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention negative


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ratings in dealing with Ebola: just four in 10 say the CDC is doing an excellent (9%) or good
(31%) job. 57% say it is doing a fair (39%) or poor (18%) job.

Job Rating of the CDC in Fighting Ebola
Total Reps Dems Inds
Excellent 9% 7% 9% 11%
Good 31 24 39 29
Fair 39 41 38 39
Poor 18 25 11 18
___________________________________________________________________________________________
This poll was conducted by telephone October 23-27, 2014 among 1,269 adults nationwide. The error due to
sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for
subgroups may be higher. Data collection was conducted on behalf of CBS News by SSRS of Media, PA. Phone
numbers were dialed from samples of both standard land-line and cell phones. Interviews were conducted in
English and Spanish. This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public
Polls.


CBS NEWS POLL
Confronting the Threat of Ebola in the U.S.
October 23-27, 2014

Q1-Q6. Held for future release.

Q7. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the threat of the Ebola virus?

*TOTAL RESPONDENTS*
Total Rep Dem Ind
% % % %
Approve 47 23 71 43
Disapprove 41 64 21 43
Don't know/No answer 11 13 8 14

Q8-Q52. Held for future release.

Q53. How concerned are you that there will be a large outbreak of Ebola inside the United States within the next twelve
months very concerned, somewhat concerned, not very concerned, or not at all concerned?

Oct14a
Very concerned 32 32 33 31 40
Somewhat concerned 29 32 27 29 29
Not too concerned 22 26 22 21 20
Not at all concerned 16 10 17 19 10
Don't know/No answer * - - 1 1

Q54. Do you think the federal government is adequately prepared to deal with an outbreak of Ebola inside the United
States, or not?

Prepared 39 29 46 40 40
Not prepared 56 67 48 55 54
Don't know/No answer 5 4 5 5 6

Q56. Do you think your local hospital is adequately prepared to deal with an outbreak of Ebola, or not?

Prepared 28 22 33 27
Not prepared 66 71 62 66
Don't know/No answer 6 7 5 7

Q57. How would you rate the job being done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- or the CDC in dealing
with the threat of Ebola? Would you say it is doing an excellent, good, only fair, or poor job?

Excellent 9 7 9 11
Good 31 24 39 29
Only fair 39 41 38 39
Poor 18 25 11 18
Don't know/No answer 3 2 3 3










Q60. What do you think should happen to foreign visitors who are entering the U.S. from West Africa? 1. (They should be
allowed to enter the U.S. as long as they do not show symptoms of Ebola), or 2. They should be quarantined upon their
arrival in the US until its certain they do not have Ebola, or 3. (They should not be allowed to enter the U.S. until the
Ebola epidemic in West Africa is over.)

*TOTAL RESPONDENTS*
Total Rep Dem Ind
% % % %
Allowed to enter 14 8 14 17
Quarantined on arrival 56 56 62 53
Not be allowed to enter 27 33 22 29
Don't know/No answer 2 3 2 2


Q59. What about U.S. citizens and legal residents who are returning to the U.S. from West Africa? 1. (They should be
allowed to enter the U.S. as long as they do not show symptoms of Ebola), or 2. (They should be quarantined upon their
arrival in the US until its certain they do not have Ebola.)

Allowed to enter 17 13 17 19
Quarantined on arrival 80 84 81 78
Don't know/No answer 2 2 2 3

Q61. How likely do you think it is that you or someone in your family will get sick with the Ebola virus--very likely,
somewhat likely, not too likely, or not likely at all?

Very likely 3 2 3 3
Somewhat likely 11 12 10 11
Not too likely 31 41 26 30
Not likely at all 52 44 57 53
Don't know/No answer 2 1 3 3



Unweighted Weighted
Total Respondents 1,269

Total Republicans 337 301
Total Democrats 393 406
Total Independents 539 562