The panic virus
Subtitle: a true story of medicine, science, and fear
By: Seth Mnookin
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: 2011
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 429
ISBN-13: 9781439158647; 9781439165676
Description: A searing account of how vaccine opponents have used the media to spread their message of panic, despite no scientific evidence to support them.

In this searching exposé, the recent hysteria over childhood vaccinations and their alleged link to autism becomes a cautionary tale of bad science amplified by media sensationalism.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: The spotted pimple of death; title: Milkmaids and fear of modernity; title: The polio vaccine : from medical miracle to public health catastrophe; title: Fluoride scares and swine flu scandals; title: Vaccine roulette; title: Autism, SIDS, and society; title: Help! there are fibers growing out of my eyeballs!; title: Enter Andrew Wakefield; title: The Lancet paper; title: Thimerosal and the mystery of Minamata's dancing cats; title: The mercury moms; title: Black swans and the speed of light : a brief history of science; title: The media and its messages; title: Mark Geier, witness for hire; title: The case of Michelle Cedillo; title: Cognitive biases and availability cascades; title: How to turn a lack of evidence into evidence of harm; title: A conspiracy of dunces; title: Autism speaks; title: Katie Wright's accidental manifesto; title: Jenny McCarthy's mommy instinct; title: Medical NIMBYism and faith-based metaphysics; title: Baby Brie; title: Casualties of a war built on lies.