19/10/2009 (Agence Europe) - At the 16th International Meeting of the European Society of Gynaecological Oncology in Belgrade, Serbia, on 11-14 October, Harald zur Hausen, who discovered human papilloma virus (HPV) as the cause of cervical cancer, called for both genders to be vaccinated to eradicate the HPV 16 and 18 viruses which cause 70-80% of human papilloma infections. Dr Roosmarie de Bie presented a Dutch study which suggested that there should be wider and more sensitive screening for cervical cancer (19% of diagnosed cases of cancers were in women aged under 30 and 12% were in women aged over 60). A 20-year study carried out in Iowa on the dietary intake of 23,000 post-menopausal women found that consumption of large amounts of folic acid, vitamins B2, B6 and B12 increased the risk of cervical cancer. (O.J./transl.rt)