Cancer Survivors Network

Hi,
Here is a little information I found that might help answer some of your questions. However..please remember that each one of us is different and not everything written may apply to an individuals type of cancer. In other words.."once size does not fit all". This is just GENERAL information. Best wishes...Sue (FNHL-2-3A-6/10)

© Health Protection Agency 2011

General information - HTLV
This fact sheet gives basic, non-technical information about HTLV, and is based on an information sheet produced by St Mary's NHS Trust.

What is HTLV and where is it found?

Who gets HTLV, and how do they get it?

How do you know that you are infected with HTLV?

Does HTLV cause any disease?

Can HTLV infection and related diseases be treated?

How can you protect yourself and others against HTLV?

What is HTLV and where is it found?
HTLV stands for human T cell lymphotropic virus, as it infects a type of white blood cell called a T-cell or T-lymphocyte.

There are two types of HTLV: HTLV-I and HTLV-II. They are retroviruses

HTLV-I is a very old virus, which appears to have infected and moved with humans for hundreds, if not thousands of years.

HTLV-I is endemic (common) in the Caribbean, Japan, South America, and parts of Africa.

HTLV-II is found among native Americans.

Who gets HTLV, and how do they get it?
In England and Wales, HTLV-I is mainly found among people who originated from endemic areas and their families/sexual partners.

HTLV-II is not very common in England and Wales, and is found mainly, but not exclusively among injecting drug users.

HTLV-I and II can be transmitted from person to person in the following four ways. In England and Wales, the first three are mainly associated with HTLV-I and the last, with HTLV-II

From an infected mother to her baby. Up to 1 in 4 children born to mothers with HTLV-I infection become infected, with most infections occurring through prolonged breast feeding.

Between sexual partners through unprotected intercourse (no condom used). The risk of transmission from an infected man is greater than from an infected woman.

Through transfused blood from an HTLV infected donor. The risk of HTLV-I transmission through this route can be as high as 85%, depending on how the blood is handled and stored.

Through the sharing or re-use of needles and syringes to inject drugs.

HTLV infection is not passed from person to person by coughing, sneezing, kissing, cuddling or daily social contact.

How do you know that you are infected with HTLV?
Most people who are infected with HTLV are unaware of their infection as they are perfectly well.

These people are known as 'a