Absence of SV40 in Austrian tumors correlates with low incidence of mesotheliomas.

Between 1955 and 1963 millions of people were worldwide vaccinated with polio-vaccines that were contaminated with the simian virus 40 (SV40). This tumor-inducing virus has subsequently been detected in several human tumors. In Austria, polio mass vaccination started in winter 1961/62 with a presumably SV40-free British vaccine.