Planning and management to control and eliminate HTLV-1 infection in Iran.

ABSTRACT

Prevention and treatment of the Human T-cell leukemia virus, type 1 (HTLV-1) which was discovered nearly 40 years ago, still remain challenging. The reported high prevalence of HTLV-1 in some countries around the world triggered an open letter to the World Health Organization (WHO), urging action against HTLV-1 infection in 2018. This highlights the importance of virus elimination strategies to eradicate HTLV-1 infection. In Iran, we have documented our experiences with the virus in order to achieve and promote the possible ways to manage, control, and eliminate HTLV-1. Although there has been considerable progress apropos of HTLV-1, a series of additional challenges need to be tackled to control HTLV-1 infection in Iran.