Abstract

We described herein the potential health risks and some bioethics considerations derived from vaccines accidentally contaminated with the oncogenic monkey DNA virus, named simian virus 40. SV40-contaminated vaccines, mainly antipolio vaccines, were administered to human populations world-wide during the years 1955–63. Recently, by PCR techniques, many groups reported the presence of SV40 footprints in human tumour specimens as well as in normal tissues. Although no firm conclusions have yet been established for human diseases and SV40 infection, the administration of a monkey virus with oncogenic potential in the human population provoked great concern and criticisms.