The Panic Virus

Journalist Mnookin (www.sethmnookin.com) covers the history of infectious disease and immunization, painting a startling portrait of how special-interest groups can use the media to legitimize panic-inciting claims unsupported by scientific evidence. Despite declining vaccination rates having led to recent outbreaks of the measles worldwide, media reports linking vaccines to autism continue to discourage many from immunizing their children. Mnookin emphasizes that much science news today is written and reported by nonscience writers. Two-time Audie Award nominee Dan John Miller does a superb job of narrating. This page-turner is highly recommended for all libraries, as it presents access to all the facts about immunization as well as points to the lack of evidence surrounding any connection between autism and the measles vaccine. [The S. & S. pb will be released in January 2012.—Ed.]—Theresa Connors, Arkansas Tech Univ. Lib., Russellville