German Court to Vaccine Skeptic: Pay Up

In Germany, a vaccine skeptic found himself out $100,000 over a bet he made.

He bet against science, saying he would give $100,000 to anyone who could prove that measles is, in fact, a virus.

Stefan Lanka was pretty sure that measles was a “psychosomatic illness,” rather than a virus, reported The New York Times.

But Dr. David Bardens stepped up to offer six published research studies as proof. Lanka rejected that research, saying it wasn’t actually proof.

The two took their argument to court. The German court ruled in favor of Dr. Bardens, saying he should receive the reward money for proving that measles is a virus.

At the time, Lanka indicated that he planned to contest the ruling, The New York Times reported, but he hadn’t yet.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among many other medical groups, promises that measles is a virus.

Measles can spread through the air, leaving the sick contagious a few days before, during and a few days after showing symptoms.

The CDC advises the best way to prevent measles is to get vaccinated.