Blocking HTLV-1/2 silent transmission in Brazil: Current public health policies and proposal for additional strategies
Carolina Rosadas, Maria Luiza Bezerra Menezes, Bernardo Galvão‐Castro, Tatiane Assone, Angélica Espinosa Miranda, Mayra Gonçalves Aragón, Adele Caterino-de-Araújo, Graham P. Taylor, Ricardo Ishak
Abstract
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.