The Hantavirus Panic Machine: When Rare Diseases Become Media Theater (opens in new tab)

The Hantavirus Panic Machine: When Rare Diseases Become Media Theater by Joseph Varon at Brownstone Institute Periodically, the public faces a new microbial threat. The pattern is consistent: a tragic death or cluster of illnesses emerges, prompting newsrooms to employ dramatic language such as “deadly virus,” “mysterious outbreak,” and “health officials concerned.” Social media further amplifies public fear. Public health agencies issue cautious statements, which journalists often reframe in...