A man in Germany named Stefan Lanka offered 100,000 Euros to anyone who could scientifically prove that the measles virus really exists. But when David Barden offered him comprehensive scientific studies as proof, he refused to pay up. Now, a German district court in Ravensburg has ruled that Barden has proved that measles is caused by a virus and is telling Lanka to pay.
Lanka, who is a biologist, first issued the challenge in an advertisement in 2011. He argued in the Ravensburg court that measles is a psychosomatic illness, which means that your psychological or psychiatric states is what is making your body ill and that there is no infectious agent at work. Lanka is also a prominent critic of vaccinations in Germany.
The judge listened to three hours of arguments, including expert testimony, but disagreed with Lanka. They ruled that Barden had met the criteria of the challenge and that Lanka has to pay up. "The court had no doubt about the existence of the measles virus," it said in a statement.
Lanka said that he will appeal the ruling.
Germany has had an outbreak of measles recently. The country is in the middle of a public debate on whether vaccinations should be made compulsory.
All medical evidence shows that measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus. It is transmitted though coughing or sneezing. Symptoms usually appear one to two weeks after exposure to someone with the virus. Initial symptoms include a high fever, spots in the mouth, a runny nose, and red eyes. The signature rash that covers most of the body appears two to three days after the onset of illness. Usually the infection lasts 7 to 10 days unless it is complicated by a bacterial infection or another viral infection, such as pneumonia.
