A 1998 study published in the prestigious medical journal The Lancet linked the common measles-mumps-rubella vaccine to autism in children. What followed was a loud and angry campaign against childhood vaccinations, a social movement of parents, co-opted by the media and the likes of Oprah. But the study was false – fraudulent, in fact – and it led to a generation of children left vulnerable to children diseases. Author Seth Mnookin on what went wrong.

In The Panic Virus, Seth Mnookin draws on interviews with parents, public-health advocates, scientists, and anti-vaccine activists to tackle a fundamental question: How do we decide what the truth is? The Panic Virus is a riveting and sometimes heart-breaking medical detective story that explores the limits of rational thought. It is the ultimate cautionary tale for our time.

This entry was posted on Friday, August 19th, 2011 (last updated)