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| Germany court orders measles sceptic to pay 100,000 euros | Germany court orders measles sceptic to pay 100,000 euros |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| A German biologist who offered €100,000 (£71,350; $106,300) to anyone who could prove that measles is a virus has been ordered by a court to pay up. | A German biologist who offered €100,000 (£71,350; $106,300) to anyone who could prove that measles is a virus has been ordered by a court to pay up. |
| Stefan Lanka, who believes the illness is psychosomatic, made the pledge four years ago on his website. | Stefan Lanka, who believes the illness is psychosomatic, made the pledge four years ago on his website. |
| The reward was later claimed by German doctor David Barden, who gathered evidence from various medical studies. Mr Lanka dismissed the findings. | The reward was later claimed by German doctor David Barden, who gathered evidence from various medical studies. Mr Lanka dismissed the findings. |
| But the court in the town of Ravensburg ruled that the proof was sufficient. | But the court in the town of Ravensburg ruled that the proof was sufficient. |
| Reacting to the verdict by the court in the southern town, Mr Lanka said he would appeal. | Reacting to the verdict by the court in the southern town, Mr Lanka said he would appeal. |
| "It is a psychosomatic illness," he told regional paper Suedkurier. "People become ill after traumatic separations." | "It is a psychosomatic illness," he told regional paper Suedkurier. "People become ill after traumatic separations." |
| A recent outbreak of measles in Germany has sparked a debate about whether vaccinations against the disease should be compulsory. | A recent outbreak of measles in Germany has sparked a debate about whether vaccinations against the disease should be compulsory. |
| An 18-month-old boy in Berlin died last month of the disease. | An 18-month-old boy in Berlin died last month of the disease. |
| The World Health Organization said it was "taken aback" by the 22,000 cases reported across Europe since 2014, urging to step up vaccinations. | |
| Measles is a highly contagious infectious disease characterised by a high fever, a rash and generally feeling unwell. | Measles is a highly contagious infectious disease characterised by a high fever, a rash and generally feeling unwell. |
| The most severe cases can be fatal. | The most severe cases can be fatal. |