PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases (Sep 2021)

Blocking HTLV-1/2 silent transmission in Brazil: Current public health policies and proposal for additional strategies.

  • Carolina Rosadas,
  • Maria Luiza B Menezes,
  • Bernardo Galvão-Castro,
  • Tatiane Assone,
  • Angélica E Miranda,
  • Mayra G Aragón,
  • Adele Caterino-de-Araujo,
  • Graham P Taylor,
  • Ricardo Ishak

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0009717
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 15, no. 9
p. e0009717

Abstract

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Human T-cell lymphotropic viruses 1 and 2 (HTLV-1/2) are relatively common in Brazil but remain silent and neglected infections. HTLV-1 is associated with a range of diseases with high morbidity and mortality. There is no curative treatment for this lifelong infection, so measures to prevent transmission are essential. This narrative review discusses HTLV-1/2 transmission routes and measures to prevent its continuous dissemination. The public health policies that are currently implemented in Brazil to avoid HTLV-1/2 transmission are addressed, and further strategies are proposed.