Jul 11, 2026 7:46 AM
"Pfizer's full of SV40, a known oncogene.. what is the origin of sv40 Jack Kruse is a former neurosurgeon says it was invented in a hospital in lousianna with a massive radiation machine
The claim you're describing combines several different historical events and adds elements that are not supported by the historical evidence.
Here's what is well established:
### What is SV40?
SV40 stands for Simian Virus 40. It is a virus that naturally infects rhesus macaque monkeys. It was discovered in 1960 by researchers who were studying monkey kidney cells used in polio vaccine production. It was not invented in a laboratory. ([NCBI][1])
Scientists later found that:
SV40 can cause tumors in certain laboratory animals.
One of its proteins (Large T antigen) can interfere with tumor suppressor genes such as p53 and Rb, which is why molecular biologists call it an oncogenic virus in experimental systems. ([NCBI][1])
### Why is SV40 controversial?
Between 1955 and 1963, some polio vaccines were accidentally contaminated with SV40 because they were grown in monkey kidney cells that carried the virus.
When this contamination was discovered:
manufacturers changed production methods,
testing was added,
contaminated vaccine lots were discontinued.
This is accepted historical fact. ([CDC][2])
### Did contaminated vaccines cause cancer?
This is where the evidence becomes more nuanced.
Scientists generally agree:
SV40 can transform cells in laboratory experiments.
Some studies detected SV40 DNA in certain human tumors.
Large epidemiological studies have not shown a clear increase in cancer among people who received the contaminated polio vaccines.
The 2002 National Academies review concluded that while SV40 has biological properties that could contribute to cancer, the evidence was insufficient to conclude that the contaminated vaccines caused cancer in people. ([NCBI][1])
### What about the Louisiana hospital and radiation machine story?
This is where the historical record changes.
The specific claim that:
> "SV40 was invented in a Louisiana hospital with a massive radiation machine"
is not supported by mainstream historical documentation.
Dr. Jack Kruse has discussed a much broader theory involving:
Tulane University
Charity Hospital in New Orleans
MKULTRA
cancer research
Lee Harvey Oswald
David Ferrie
Dr. Mary Sherman
large radiation machines (linear accelerators)
alleged secret government bioweapons work
He says he found documents while a neurosurgery resident that support this narrative. ([LinkedIn][3])
However:
these claims have not been independently verified by historians,
they are not accepted in the published scientific literature,
no documented evidence has established that SV40 was created at Charity Hospital or by use of a radiation machine.
### Where might the radiation-machine idea come from?
There is a long-standing conspiracy theory surrounding:
Dr. Mary Sherman,
David Ferrie,
New Orleans in the early 1960s,
and a linear accelerator (LINAC) allegedly used in experimental cancer research.
This story became popular through books such as Dr. Mary's Monkey and has been expanded by commentators including Jack Kruse. It proposes that cancer-causing viruses were being modified using radiation equipment.
The problem is that there is no verified documentary evidence demonstrating that SV40 originated this way. The established scientific history is that SV40 was already a naturally occurring monkey virus before it was identified in 1960. ([NCBI][1])
### As for the more recent claim about Pfizer
You mentioned hearing that "Pfizer's full of SV40." There has been considerable discussion online about small DNA fragments in some COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing analyses. Those discussions often use the term "SV40," but they are referring to SV40 promoter or regulatory DNA sequences used in molecular biology, not the complete infectious SV40 virus itself. This topic is distinct from the historical SV40 contamination of polio vaccines, and conflating the two can be misleading. ([AAP][4])
If you're interested, I can also explain why the SV40 promoter became part of the COVID vaccine debate and what independent laboratories have actually found versus what has been claimed online.
[1]: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK221118/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Executive Summary - Immunization Safety Review - NCBI Bookshelf"
[2]: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/historical-concerns/index.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Historical Vaccine Concerns | Vaccine Safety | CDC"
[3]: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/drjackkruse_cpc-78-nazi-mkultra-program-charity-hospital-activity-7427351628493709312-oouS?utm_source=chatgpt.com "CPC #78: NAZI MKULTRA PROGRAM & CHARITY HOSPITAL BOXES | Dr. Jack Kruse | Jack Kruse"
[4]: https://prod-ss.aap.com.au/factcheck/video-wrong-on-link-between-mrna-vaccines-and-monkey-virus/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Video wrong on link between mRNA vaccines and monkey virus | AAP"
The claim you're describing combines several different historical events and adds elements that are not supported by the historical evidence.
Here's what is well established:
### What is SV40?
SV40 stands for Simian Virus 40. It is a virus that naturally infects rhesus macaque monkeys. It was discovered in 1960 by researchers who were studying monkey kidney cells used in polio vaccine production. It was not invented in a laboratory. ([NCBI][1])
Scientists later found that:
SV40 can cause tumors in certain laboratory animals.
One of its proteins (Large T antigen) can interfere with tumor suppressor genes such as p53 and Rb, which is why molecular biologists call it an oncogenic virus in experimental systems. ([NCBI][1])
### Why is SV40 controversial?
Between 1955 and 1963, some polio vaccines were accidentally contaminated with SV40 because they were grown in monkey kidney cells that carried the virus.
When this contamination was discovered:
manufacturers changed production methods,
testing was added,
contaminated vaccine lots were discontinued.
This is accepted historical fact. ([CDC][2])
### Did contaminated vaccines cause cancer?
This is where the evidence becomes more nuanced.
Scientists generally agree:
SV40 can transform cells in laboratory experiments.
Some studies detected SV40 DNA in certain human tumors.
Large epidemiological studies have not shown a clear increase in cancer among people who received the contaminated polio vaccines.
The 2002 National Academies review concluded that while SV40 has biological properties that could contribute to cancer, the evidence was insufficient to conclude that the contaminated vaccines caused cancer in people. ([NCBI][1])
### What about the Louisiana hospital and radiation machine story?
This is where the historical record changes.
The specific claim that:
> "SV40 was invented in a Louisiana hospital with a massive radiation machine"
is not supported by mainstream historical documentation.
Dr. Jack Kruse has discussed a much broader theory involving:
Tulane University
Charity Hospital in New Orleans
MKULTRA
cancer research
Lee Harvey Oswald
David Ferrie
Dr. Mary Sherman
large radiation machines (linear accelerators)
alleged secret government bioweapons work
He says he found documents while a neurosurgery resident that support this narrative. ([LinkedIn][3])
However:
these claims have not been independently verified by historians,
they are not accepted in the published scientific literature,
no documented evidence has established that SV40 was created at Charity Hospital or by use of a radiation machine.
### Where might the radiation-machine idea come from?
There is a long-standing conspiracy theory surrounding:
Dr. Mary Sherman,
David Ferrie,
New Orleans in the early 1960s,
and a linear accelerator (LINAC) allegedly used in experimental cancer research.
This story became popular through books such as Dr. Mary's Monkey and has been expanded by commentators including Jack Kruse. It proposes that cancer-causing viruses were being modified using radiation equipment.
The problem is that there is no verified documentary evidence demonstrating that SV40 originated this way. The established scientific history is that SV40 was already a naturally occurring monkey virus before it was identified in 1960. ([NCBI][1])
### As for the more recent claim about Pfizer
You mentioned hearing that "Pfizer's full of SV40." There has been considerable discussion online about small DNA fragments in some COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing analyses. Those discussions often use the term "SV40," but they are referring to SV40 promoter or regulatory DNA sequences used in molecular biology, not the complete infectious SV40 virus itself. This topic is distinct from the historical SV40 contamination of polio vaccines, and conflating the two can be misleading. ([AAP][4])
If you're interested, I can also explain why the SV40 promoter became part of the COVID vaccine debate and what independent laboratories have actually found versus what has been claimed online.
[1]: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK221118/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Executive Summary - Immunization Safety Review - NCBI Bookshelf"
[2]: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/historical-concerns/index.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Historical Vaccine Concerns | Vaccine Safety | CDC"
[3]: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/drjackkruse_cpc-78-nazi-mkultra-program-charity-hospital-activity-7427351628493709312-oouS?utm_source=chatgpt.com "CPC #78: NAZI MKULTRA PROGRAM & CHARITY HOSPITAL BOXES | Dr. Jack Kruse | Jack Kruse"
[4]: https://prod-ss.aap.com.au/factcheck/video-wrong-on-link-between-mrna-vaccines-and-monkey-virus/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Video wrong on link between mRNA vaccines and monkey virus | AAP"