Abstract
Although mass vaccination programs have resulted in the eradication of a number of human infectious diseases, vaccine contamination has been a persistent concern. In particular, it is now known that the early polio vaccines were contaminated with at least one monkey virus, SV40. The transfer of monkey viruses to man via contaminated vaccines is particularly relevant to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), since the causative agent of AIDS, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), is thought to be derived from a simian precursor virus. Furthermore, human infection with this virus appears to be a relatively recent event. We hypothesize that the AIDS pandemic may have originated with a contaminated polio vaccine that was administered to inhabitants of Equatorial Africa from 1957 to 1959. The mechanism of evolution of HIV from this vaccine remains to be determined.
MeSH terms
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Accidents
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Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / epidemiology
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Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / history
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Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / transmission*
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Animals
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Cells, Cultured / microbiology
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Chlorocebus aethiops / microbiology*
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Cricetinae
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Democratic Republic of the Congo / epidemiology
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Disease Outbreaks*
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Drug Contamination*
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HIV-1 / isolation & purification
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History, 20th Century
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Humans
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Macaca / microbiology
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Neoplasms, Experimental / microbiology
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Poliovirus Vaccine, Inactivated / adverse effects*
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Poliovirus Vaccine, Inactivated / history
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Poliovirus Vaccine, Oral / adverse effects
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Poliovirus Vaccine, Oral / history
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Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / microbiology
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Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / isolation & purification
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Simian virus 40 / isolation & purification
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Simian virus 40 / pathogenicity
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Zoonoses
Substances
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Poliovirus Vaccine, Inactivated
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Poliovirus Vaccine, Oral