Jonas Salk: Infidel

Charles Oliver | January 21, 2004

Muslim leaders in Nigeria have told their followers not to have themselves or their children vaccinated for polio because the vaccine is provided by the United States. The leaders told them the vaccine had been laced with drugs that cause infertility or with the HIV virus. Some Muslim authorities reportedly admitted they knew those charges weren't true; they just wanted to resist a U.S.-led program. "People believe that America hates Muslims, and so whatever comes from the United States, no matter how good it is, people will reject it," said Sheik Muhammed Nasir Muhammed, chief imam at Kano, Nigeria's second-largest mosque.