The Panic Virus

Seth Mnookin

How did a scare about vaccines and autism take hold and spread, and what does it show about how fear travels?

At a glance

You will understand the mental shortcuts that let a frightening story spread faster than the evidence against it
You will see how a single paper and a single press conference can start a public scare
You will know what vaccines protect against, so you can weigh the real risks against the fear

CAST OF CHARACTERS
INTRODUCTION
Part One
CHAPTER 1 THE SPOTTED PIMPLE OF DEATH
CHAPTER 2 MILKMAID ENVY AND A FEAR OF MODERNITY
CHAPTER 3 THE POLIO VACCINE: FROM MEDICAL MIRACLE TO PUBLIC HEALTH CATASTROPHE
CHAPTER 4 FLUORIDE SCARES AND SWINE FLU SCANDALS
CHAPTER 5 “VACCINE ROULETTE”
CHAPTER 6 AUTISM’S EVOLVING IDENTITIES
CHAPTER 7 HELP! THERE ARE FIBERS GROWING OUT OF MY EYEBALLS!
Part Two
CHAPTER 8 ENTER ANDREW WAKEFIELD
CHAPTER 9 THE LANCET PAPER
CHAPTER 10 THIMEROSAL AND THE MYSTERY OF MINAMATA’S DANCING CATS
CHAPTER 11 THE MERCURY MOMS
CHAPTER 12 THE SIMPSONWOOD CONFERENCE AND THE SPEED OF LIGHT: A BRIEF HISTORY OF SCIENCE
CHAPTER 13 THE MEDIA AND ITS MESSAGES
CHAPTER 14 MARK GEIER, WITNESS FOR HIRE
CHAPTER 15 THE CASE OF MICHELLE CEDILLO
CHAPTER 16 COGNITIVE BIASES AND AVAILABILITY CASCADES
Part Three
CHAPTER 17 HOW TO TURN A LACK OF EVIDENCE INTO EVIDENCE OF HARM
CHAPTER 18 A CONSPIRACY OF DUNCES
CHAPTER 19 AUTISM SPEAKS
CHAPTER 20 KATIE WRIGHT’S ACCIDENTAL MANIFESTO
CHAPTER 21 JENNY MCCARTHY’S MOMMY INSTINCT
CHAPTER 22 MEDICAL NIMBYISM AND FAITH-BASED METAPHYSICS
CHAPTER 23 BABY BRIE
CHAPTER 24 CASUALTIES OF A WAR BUILT ON LIES
EPILOGUE