Origins of HIV and the AIDS Epidemic [Discussion Meeting (2000: London, England)]

Hypotheses and facts
Professor Hilary Koprowski
Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, USA
There are two ways to construct a theory. One way is to put forward a hypothesis and search for evidence
against the hypothesis rather than support. The other way is to assemble as much factual information to
support the hypothesis with as few preconceptions as possible. Hooper did not follow either of the two
advices. His preconceptions are based on hearsay and his own assumptions without even attempting to
provide facts to support his theory.
There is no shred of evidence that chimpanzee kidneys were ever used either in Congo or Philadelphia to
produce Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) for immunization in Congo. So-called "contamination" of Chat Strain with
an "unknown virus" reported by Sabin had nothing to do with HIV but occurred in Sabin's lab by
contamination with SV 40. Since Hooper never checked with Koprowski, itineraries of Koprowski's travel in
Congo are purely imaginative.
Discovery of OPV in 1950 and the mass vaccination with OPV in Congo paved the way for eradication of
polio in the world. Hooper's baseless theory may impede completion of this task, important for the whole
world.