Health Security Survey for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

An Ipsos survey on behalf of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation shows online adults in the UK and Germany are more concerned about the spread of infectious disease than they are about war with other nation states.

An Ipsos survey on behalf of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation shows online adults in the UK and Germany are more concerned about the spread of infectious disease than they are about war with other nation states.

According to the survey results:

  • When thinking about global health and security, 71% of Britons aged 16-75 say they are concerned about the spread of infectious diseases like Ebola, Zika and deadly strains of ‘flu on global health and security, compared to 67% who are concerned about wars with other nation states.
  • 71% of Germans aged 16-70 say they are concerned about the spread of infectious diseases, compared to 73% who are concerned about wars with other nation states.
  • Of all the issues asked about, violent terrorist attacks are the top concern (mentioned by 83% in the UK and 84% in Germany).
  • Two-thirds (66%) of Britons and over half (55%) of Germans think it’s likely there will be another epidemic like Ebola or Zika in the next couple of years.
  • 67% of Britons and 69% of Germans surveyed believe the risk of biological terror attacks is greater today than ever before.

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Technical note

Research was carried out by Ipsos on behalf of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. It surveyed a nationally representative quota sample of 1,085 adults in Germany aged 16-70 using its online I:Omnibus between 26th and 30th January 2017. Data have been weighted by age, gender, region and working status to the known offline population profile.

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