Polio vaccine & Simian Virus 40

From the CDC:

Frequently Asked Questions about Cancer, Simian Virus 40 (SV40), and Polio Vaccine

SV40 is a virus found in some species of monkey. Soon after its discovery in 1960, SV40 was found in polio vaccine. More than 98 million Americans received one or more doses of polio vaccine during the period (1955–1963) when some of the vaccine was contaminated with SV40. SV40 has been found in certain types of human cancers, but it has not been determined that SV40 causes these cancers. The majority of evidence suggests there is no causal relationship between receipt of SV40-contaminated vaccine and cancer; however, some research results are conflicting and more studies are needed. For more information, see the fact sheet.

• What is SV40?
• Why is there so much interest in SV40?
• Does polio vaccine being given in the U.S. today contain SV40?
• What about concerns that the testing methods used to screen oral polio vaccines could have missed certain strains of SV40?
• Who received SV40-contaminated polio vaccine?
• Were any other people in the U.S. possibly exposed to SV40-contaminated vaccines?
• Is receiving contaminated vaccine the only way to become infected with SV40?
• SV40 is known to cause tumors in rodents. Have research studies found an association between SV40 and cancer in humans?
• What steps have been taken by the government to see if SV40-contaminated vaccines affected people's health?
• What has research found regarding the health effects of receiving SV40-contaminated vaccine?
• Have research studies looked at the risk of cancer in children whose mothers received SV40-contaminated polio vaccine?
• If I have one of these cancers, does it mean that SV40 caused it?
• Can I obtain a test to see if I am infected with SV40?
• What should I do if I received polio vaccine during 1955–1963?
• Where can I get more information about SV40?

From the SV40 foundation:

SV40 was the 40th virus found in rhesus monkey kidney cells when these cells were used to make the polio vaccine. This virus contaminated both the Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) created by Dr. Jonas Salk and the Oral or "Live" Polio Vaccine (OPV) created by Dr. Albert Sabin.

Children being fed sugar cubes with the oral polio vaccine. Circa 1961.

In 1961, SV40 was discovered by Dr. Bernice Eddy of the National Institute of Health, Division of Biologics when she took the material used to grow polio vaccines and injected it into hamsters. Tumors grew in the hamsters. Her discovery was subsequently validated by Drs. Maurice Hilliman and Benjamin Sweet of Merck.

Upon the discovery that SV40 was an animal carcinogen that had found its way into the polio vaccines, a new federal law was passed in 1961 that required that no vaccines contain this virus. However, this law did not require that SV40 contaminated vaccines be thrown away or that the contaminated seed material (used to make all polio vaccines for the next four decades) be discarded. As a result, known SV40 contaminated vaccines were injected into children up until 1963. In addition, it has been alleged that there have been SV40-contaminated batches of oral polio vaccine administered to some children until the end of the 1990's.