Annenberg Public Coverage Heart ASAPH Survey August 2025. Credit score: Annenberg Public Coverage Heart
West Nile virus is the main reason behind mosquito-borne sickness within the continental United States. As of Sept. 23, over 1,100 human circumstances of West Nile illness have been reported throughout 42 states, in line with the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC), together with practically 750 circumstances of the extra critical neuroinvasive type which impacts the mind.
CDC information present the variety of circumstances in the US is 40% larger than regular. Specialists counsel {that a} warming local weather is lengthening the season, which generally runs by means of October within the U.S. Thus far this season, Colorado has reported 220 circumstances, the very best in a single state.
Whereas most individuals contaminated with the virus don’t develop signs, it does trigger signs in some individuals, starting from a gentle, flu-like sickness to a extra extreme sickness affecting the central nervous system, which may end up in hospitalization and dying.
Regardless of this season’s rising variety of circumstances, comparatively few Individuals fear about changing into contaminated by West Nile or by dengue fever, one other mosquito-borne sickness, in line with a survey of practically 1,700 U.S. adults carried out August 5–18, 2025, by the Annenberg Public Coverage Heart (APPC) of the College of Pennsylvania. Simply 15% of respondents within the nationally consultant panel report being concerned that they or somebody of their household will contract West Nile virus or dengue fever within the subsequent three months. This discovering is unchanged from September 2024. (Learn the topline.)
“With the increasing number of West Nile virus cases and a longer mosquito season, many people need to have a greater awareness of the virus and may want to consider taking everyday precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bites and control mosquitoes in and around their homes,” stated Ken Winneg, APPC’s managing director of survey analysis.
Highlights
The Annenberg Public Coverage Heart well being survey carried out Aug. 5–18 finds that:
Simply 15% of U.S. adults say they’re apprehensive about contracting West Nile virus or dengue fever within the subsequent three months.
Most individuals (75%) know that one can get West Nile or dengue fever from being bitten by an contaminated mosquito and the perfect protection towards these illnesses is to keep away from getting bitten (81%).
Almost half (48%) are usually not certain what the signs of West Nile virus are.
Data of the proper approach to apply mosquito repellent is low—simply 14% know to not put insect repellent below your clothes and 33% know to first apply sunscreen, let it dry, after which placed on insect repellent.
Excessive information about transmission; fewer know signs
Few individuals (15%) are apprehensive that they and their households will get these illnesses within the subsequent three months, and the overwhelming majority (85%) are unworried, no change from September 2024.
The next outcomes present what U.S. adults find out about the way in which West Nile virus and dengue fever are transmitted, its signs, the right way to shield themselves from mosquitoes, and what kind of insect repellent the CDC recommends and the way one ought to apply it.
Transmission: People normally contract West Nile virus or dengue fever by means of the chew of an contaminated mosquito. Not often is the virus unfold by person-to-person contact similar to blood transfusions, breast feeding, or being sneezed or coughed on.
Most adults (75%) say scientists assume that folks can get West Nile virus or dengue by means of a mosquito chew, although 1 in 10 (11%) incorrectly say that scientists assume that that type of transmission is unlikely and 14% are uncertain. When requested whether or not scientists assume somebody can get West Nile virus or dengue by being sneezed or coughed on by somebody with these illnesses, fewer than half (43%) appropriately say that’s unlikely, up 9 factors from September 2024. Almost 1 in 5 individuals (19%) incorrectly say that scientists assume an contaminated individual coughing or sneezing on somebody is a way of transmission, however that has dropped considerably since September 2024, when 26% stated so. About 4 in 10 (39%) say they’re uncertain, no change from final 12 months.
Therapy: There may be at present no antiviral remedy for West Nile virus or dengue, however solely a fifth of adults (22%) know this. Most are both uncertain (61%) or consider there’s an antiviral remedy (17%).
Signs: When introduced with a listing of potential signs of West Nile virus and requested that are signs of that illness, practically half of these surveyed (48%) say they’re uncertain that are right. Fever was chosen by most (45%) as a symptom of the virus, adopted by muscle and joint ache (41%); headache (38%); nausea and vomiting (33%); and rash (23%). Three in 10 individuals (31%) incorrectly selected dizziness or lightheadedness, and 12% incorrectly selected the looks of agency, spherical painless sores.
Most individuals report taking some steps to manage mosquitoes at residence
The overwhelming majority of individuals (81%) know the perfect protection towards dengue fever and West Nile virus is stopping mosquito bites and controlling mosquitoes in and round their residence.
Realizing this and doing one thing about it are two various things. Usually, 61% say they routinely take precautions to keep away from getting mosquito bites, at any time of the 12 months.
Among the many group of people that say they routinely take precautions to keep away from getting mosquito bites, we introduced a listing of particular measures asking them to point which of them they take. The most typical measure that folks select is eradicating standing water (80%), adopted by avoiding actions that may deliver them in touch with mosquitoes (72%); sporting insect repellent (68%); changing or repairing window screens (59%); and sporting long-sleeve or protecting clothes outside (57%). Few (13%) say they use mosquito netting. The outcomes aren’t any completely different from September 2024.
Data about the right way to apply mosquito repellent is low
As famous above, sporting insect repellent is among the extra frequent preventive measures that folks report taking. However information of the right way to correctly apply mosquito repellent is comparatively low, particularly when dressing or making use of sunscreen.
The CDC recommends that people don’t apply insect repellent on the pores and skin below clothes, simply on uncovered pores and skin. Few individuals (14%) know this suggestion. Three in 10 (30%) say incorrectly that it doesn’t matter, and about one-fifth (18%) say the CDC recommends that one apply insect repellent on the physique first, then put clothes on over the areas protected by repellent. Almost 4 in 10 (38%) say they’re uncertain.
When going outside within the day throughout mosquito season, it is very important apply insect repellent to stop mosquito bites and sunscreen to guard towards dangerous ultraviolet rays. Only a third of adults (33%) know that the CDC recommends that one ought to apply sunscreen first, let it dry, then apply insect repellent. Almost half (47%) say they’re uncertain, 5% incorrectly say the CDC recommends one placed on the insect repellent first, adopted by sunscreen, and 15% say the CDC recommends that the order of software doesn’t matter, however that one ought to use each when in an space with mosquitoes, which additionally is inaccurate.
Insect repellents might be utilized to most individuals besides infants youthful than two months previous. Most individuals know that the CDC doesn’t advocate that insect repellent be utilized to infants youthful than 2 months previous (54%), however 43% are usually not certain, and three% consider the CDC recommends repellent for infants youthful than two months.
Data of the right way to apply insect repellent is vital, however it’s also vital to know the way to decide on the most secure and best repellent. There are numerous kinds of insect repellent out there however the CDC recommends that folks search for one which notes that it’s EPA-registered.
Only one in 5 (19%) adults appropriately say CDC recommends utilizing an EPA-registered repellent. A 3rd (32%) say, incorrectly, that the CDC recommends that folks search for a repellent that has over 50% of the chemical DEET. Whereas DEET is efficient as an ingredient in insect repellent, the CDC recommends utilizing a focus of 20–50% DEET as a result of greater than that won’t normally present additional safety towards mosquito bites. The CDC doesn’t advocate utilizing pure repellents, although 7% of respondents consider it does and 42% are usually not certain.
Annenberg science and public well being survey
The survey information come from the twenty fifth wave of a nationally consultant panel of 1,699 U.S. adults carried out for the Annenberg Public Coverage Heart by SSRS, an impartial market analysis firm. Most have been empaneled since April 2021. To account for attrition, replenishment samples have been added over time utilizing a random chance sampling design. The latest replenishment, in September 2024, added 360 respondents to the pattern. This wave of the Annenberg Science and Public Well being (ASAPH) survey was fielded August 5-18, 2025. The margin of sampling error (MOE) is ± 3.5 share factors on the 95% confidence stage. All figures are rounded to the closest entire quantity and should not add to 100%. Mixed subcategories might not add to totals within the topline and textual content resulting from rounding.
Extra info:
Obtain the topline and the strategies report.
Offered by
Annenberg Public Coverage Heart of the College of Pennsylvania
Quotation:
Regardless of improve in US circumstances, fear about West Nile virus stays low (2025, September 26)
retrieved 26 September 2025
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