The panic virus the true story behind the vaccine autism controversy mnookin seth on amazoncom free shipping on qualifying offers the panic virus the true story behind the vaccine autism controversy. 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 fascinating answer helps explain everything from the persistence of conspiracy theories about 9 11 to the appeal of talk show hosts who demand that president obama prove he was born in america. The panic virus the true story behind the vaccine autism controversy simon schuster 2012 in 1998 andrew wakefield a british gastroenterologist with a history of self promotion published a paper with a shocking allegation the measles mumps rubella vaccine might cause autism the media seized hold of the story and in the process helped to . Seth mnookin is a contributing editor at vanity fair and a former senior writer for newsweek where he covered media politics and popular culture his writing has appeared in the washington post new york magazine and many other publications he is the author of the panic virus a true story of medicine science and fear feeding the monster how money smarts and nerve took a team to the . 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 fascinating answer helps explain everything from the persistence of conspiracy theories about 9 11 to the appeal of talk show hosts who demand that president obama prove he was born in america