New WHO report on Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 highlights strategies for its prevention and control

WHO has published a series of products on Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) calling attention to address HTLV-1 through a global public health approach. The HTLV-1 technical report, the HTLV-1 fact sheet and the HTLV-1 meeting report are the products of consultations undertaken by WHO with member states and partners over the past year. HTLV-1 is a retrovirus which causes a chronic lifelong infection in humans. Its transmission happens through breast feeding, sexual contact and blood transfusions and is similar to the HIV virus. It causes a range of clinical syndromes. The commonest of these clinical syndromes are Adult T-cell Leukemia (ATL) and HTLV-1 associated Myelopathy or Total Spastic Paraparesis (HAM/TSP). The current estimates for the total number of people living with HTLV-1 infection range from 5 million to 10 million as of 2012. The prevalence of the infection is particularly high in parts of Japan, Australia and the Pacific islands. Over the...