In accordance with most of the pre-and post pandemic general public studies conducted worldwide [1, 2, 8, 19, 20] , our participants held a common belief that they were not at risk of acquiring the disease. Amongst our participants, it was felt that they were protected against the infection because they were 'fit and young'. This sense of non-vulnerability has also been previously documented in our previous university study [10] and amongst dormitory housed university students (aged18-23 years) in the USA [21] . However, given the low level of comprehension about pandemic influenza, the general public may be over or underestimating their level of risk towards acquiring the disease and the health consequences if infected (serious illness, need for hospitalization, mortality risk).