ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

SV40

SV40 is a virus that is really, really small. It is so small that you cannot see it with your eyes, even if you try to look really closely. When people first discovered SV40 a long time ago, they thought it was not harmful to people, but they were wrong.

SV40 can cause problems in the body. Sometimes it can make people sick and it might even cause cancer. This is because it can get into your cells and make them do bad things. It’s like if a monster got into your room and started breaking your toys. That’s kind of what SV40 does to your cells.

Scientists have learned a lot about SV40 over the years, and they are trying to figure out how to keep it from hurting people. They know that it is important to be careful and keep the virus from spreading. This is why they have made special rules about how to handle things that might have SV40 in them.

If you ever hear someone talking about SV40, just remember that it is a really small virus that can make people sick and sometimes cause cancer. But scientists are working hard to learn more about it and make sure it doesn’t hurt anyone.