Another blow was dealt today to the already fairly battered theory that the MMR vaccine is linked to autism (covered in all the major outlets see also The MMR hoax).

A study published in PLOS One attempted to replicate the research that kicked off the whole debate / scare story in the first place: the 1998 finding by Wakefield et al of measles virus RNA in bowel tissue from children with autism and gastro problems.

As the study notes:

Subsequent investigations found no associations between MV [measles virus] exposure and ASD [autistic spectrum disorders] but did not test for the presence of MV RNA in bowel or focus on children with ASD and GI disturbances. Failure to replicate the original study design may contribute to continued public concern with respect to the safety of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

And concludes:

This study provides strong evidence against association of autism with persistent MV RNA in the GI tract or MMR exposure

Of course none of this is likely to sway the anti-vaccination crowd, who seem to have become convinced of the link. So here’s another experiment: how long will it take for someone in the comments to claim there is a link and what will they cite as evidence?

We’re done here…