A Nobel Prize winner is visiting the Island to hold a public lecture on cervical cancer.

Harald zur Hausen was awarded The Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2008 for his discovery of 'human papilloma viruses causing cervical cancer'.

The German professor went against medical school of thought to put forward the theory that oncogenic human papilloma virus (HPV) causes cervical cancer, the second most common cancer among women.

Professor zur Hausen found HPV to be a diverse family of viruses but that only some types cause cancer. His discovery has led to characterisation of the natural history of HPV infection, an understanding of mechanisms of HPV-induced cancer and the development of vaccines against it.

The Nobel Prize winner was invited to the Island to speak to doctors by the Bermuda Hospitals Board, but will also hold a public audience on March 14.

HPV is thought to be the most common sexually transmitted infection in the US. The American Social Health Association estimates about 75 to 80 percent of sexually-active Americans will be infected with HPV at some point in their lives. By the age of 50 more than 80 percent of American women will have contracted at least one strain of genital HPV.

Professor zur Hausen has received numerous international awards and is currently the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Cancer.

The Community Cancer Forum has been organised with the Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre and will take place at 2.30 p.m. on March 14 at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute (BUEI). Admission is free and refreshments will be served.

n For more information visit www.chc.bm or call 236 1001 ext 1020.