The Lancet: Time to eradicate HTLV-1: an open letter to WHO
Fabiola Martin, Yutaka Tagaya, Robert Gallo, all members of the Global Virus Network’s HTLV-1 Task Force

“Human T-cell leukemia virus 1 (HTLV-1) is the most potent carcinogenic oncovirus and potentially the most oncogenic risk factor including chemical carcinogens. … HTLV-1 remains a strong threat to individual and community health, and even more so to global health because of the accelerated rate of human migration in recent times. … We feel strongly that research on the pathogenesis and treatment of this virus needs to be encouraged not only for the sake of HTLV-1 positive patients but also as a model for other human diseases including virus-related cancer. … We have published an open letter to WHO, proposing a WHO HTLV-1 vision for the prevention of HTLV-1 transmission, signed by more than 50 individuals and organizations. The letter states, ‘[I]t is time to do more for HTLV-1, including five intervention strategies to reduce the incidence of HTLV-1 infection,’ and we encourage you to read it online” (5/12).