Of course those evils go together like the heads of Cerberus. But here's a manifestation that we had not heard of before.
Polio is a terrible disease. It can kill; more often it cripples. Throughout history, the terror of recurrent polio epidemics used to be an abiding fact of life, and especially of parenthood – until it was all but eradicated by mass vaccination.
Occasionally, there are still outbreaks. These things happen. They are dealt with.
But sometimes they don't “just” happen. Sometimes they are not dealt with, and start to spread, and there's a reason for that. At present,
Nigeria accounts for almost half of all new polio cases and [the northern, Islamic province of] Kano is at the centre of the disease's resurgence.
Why? Because Kano hasn't allowed any polio vaccinations for months. Why? Because they defer to their holy men who, unfortunately, are barking mad:
Kano suspended immunisations last year, following reports by Muslim clerics that the vaccine was contaminated with an anti-fertility agent as part of a US plot to render Muslim women infertile.
[…]
A United Nations Children's Fund spokesman said any delay would result in the spread of the virus crippling more innocent children, both in Nigeria and neighbouring countries.
Polio has already radiated out from Kano to infect at least six west and central African states.
Conspiracy theories kill. And cripple.
