Advancing HTLV public policies around the world
Rational and Objectives
Human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) infection has been neglected since the onset of the AIDS pandemic and the description of the HIV-1 virus in the early 1980s, despite the high morbidity and mortality. This infection affects vulnerable population groups (FSW, MSM, IDU, people living in poverty in areas of very low HDI, epidemiologically semi-closed population groups including quilombolas and indigenous people).
In this context, researchers published an open letter to the WHO in 2018 in The Lancet, emphasizing that the time had come to eliminate this infection in our midst. In response to this request, the initial step is to shine light onto HTLV and support an international effort towards the elimination of HTLV-1/2.
Thus, PAHO/WHO, in partnership with the HTLV Channel, is organizing the “HTLV World Day Webinar: International health policy forum for the elimination of HTLV”. This event aims to discuss public policy actions implemented in several countries, which contribute to achieving the goal of HTLV elimination.
The actions taken together should be an inspiration for those countries which are still finding problems in establishing prevention and control strategies to avoid HTLV-1/2 and to jump into the proposal of future elimination of the viruses.
The event will be divided into sessions where health policies in the continents will be discussed, the impression of people living with HTLV in different countries, and finally the characteristics of this infection in the Region of the Americas.
Join us in this virtual meeting! Let`s build together an agenda to tackle HTLV infection.
Webinar: International Health Policy Forum for the Elimination of HTLV. Meeting Report
The following speakers have confirmed participation:
| Dr. Ruben Mayorga-Sagastume |
United States |
| Prof. Graham Taylor |
United Kingdom |
| Prof. Fabiola Martin |
Australia |
| Prof. Yoshihisa Yamano |
Japan |
| Dr. Lloyd Einsiedel |
Australia |
| Prof. Angelica Espinosa |
Brazil |
| Dr. Noreen Jack |
Belize |
| Dr. Divya Dashmana |
UK |
| Sr. Adjeane Oliveira |
Brazil |
| Sra Ema Moyano |
Argentina |
| Sra. Kristy Blakeborough |
UK |
| Prof Eduardo Gotuzzo |
Peru |
| Prof. Ricardo Ishak |
Brazil |
| Prof. Edward Murphy |
USA |
| Prof. Peter Figueiroa |
Jamaica |
| Prof. Patricia Garcia |
Peru |
| Prof. Mirna Biglione |
Argentina |
| Dra. Tatiane Assone |
Brazil |
| Prof. Antonio Vallinoto | Brazil |
November 10th, 2021. 8:00am - Brasília (-3GMT).
| 8:00 - 8:10 | Opening Ceremony PAHO/WHO, Brazilian Ministry of Health, Organizing Committee |
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| 8:10 - 8:30 | PAHO/WHO Overview in the world and specifically in the Americas, global public health agenda on HTLV Dr. Ruben Mayorga-Sagastume (PAHO/WHO) |
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Session 1: Health policies around the world |
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| 8:30 - 8:45 | It is time to eliminate HTLV-1/2: The Why Prof. Fabiola Martin |
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| 8:45- 9:00 | Public health policies for HTLV-1/2 in Japan – National program for HTLV Prof. Yoshihisa Yamano |
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| 9:00 - 9:15 | Public policies for HTLV-1/2 in the UK – National Centre for Human Retrovirology a national reference Centre for HTLV. Dr. Divya Dashmana |
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| 9:15 - 9:30 | Public health policies for HTLV-1/2 in Australia – Epidemiological studies in vulnerable population from Australia Dr. Lloyd Einsiedel |
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| 9:30 - 9:45 | Public policies for HTLV-1/2 in Brazil Prof. Angélica E. Miranda |
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| 9:45 - 10:05 | Perception of PLHTLV of the present situation regarding HTLV Ms. Adjeane Oliveira Ms. Ema Moyano Ms. Kristy Blakeborough |
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| 10:05 - 10:30 | Q&A | |
| 10:30 - 10:45 |
It’s time to eliminate HTLV-1/2: The How |
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| Session 2: Public Policies for HTLV in Americas Chair: Prof. Ricardo Ishak |
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| 11:00 - 12:00 | Prof. Edward Murphy - USA Prof. Peter Figueiroa - Jamaica Prof. Patricia Garcia - Peru Prof. Mirna Biglione - Argentina |
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| 12:00 - 12:20 | Q&A | |
| 12:20 - 12:30 | Key message based on the round table Prof. Ricardo Ishak |
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| 12:30 - 14:00 | Interval | |
| Session 3: specifics of HTLV infection in the Americas Chair: Carolina Rosadas |
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| 14:00 - 14:15 | HTLV and co-infections: when HTLV is not alone in South America Prof Eduardo Gotuzzo |
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| 14:15 - 14:30 | Host genetics and its impact in infection outcome Dra. Tatiane Assone |
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| 14:30 - 14:45 | HTLV among vulnerable indigenous communities in the Americas Prof. Antonio Vallinoto |
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| 14:45 - 15:00 | Closing session | |
The event will be broadcast simultaneously in three languages: English, Spanish and Portuguese.
We invite all for the submission of abstracts regarding HTLV surveillance and health policies to eradicate HTLV.
Guidelines
Abstracts
- Should be sent in a Word document to: htlvday@gmail.com;
- Written in English;
- Font Times New Roman size 12;
- Should not exceed 2500 characters including spaces;
- Up to one Figure and one Table allowed.
Topics:
- Prevalence studies
- Surveillance of co-infections
- Health policies and clinical services: case report
- Approaches for the prevention and control of HTLV-1/2
- Specific strategies to prevent HTLV targeting vulnerable communities with high risk of HTLV infection
- Strategies to increase awareness about HTLV-1/2
- Acceptance of public health policies
- Economic analysis of health policies
Contents:
- Title – UPPER CASE – maximum 120 characters including spaces.
- Authors – First and last names only, indicating initials for middle names. Presenting author should be underlined.
- Brief affiliation of each author numbered (Institution, City and Country only) linked to superscript number after author’s name.
- Abstracts should include: Background, Methods, Results, and Conclusions
Important information
- Presenting authors from accepted abstracts will need to send a short video presentation (up to 3 minutes). All videos will be available online for public consultation. Guidance on video presentation will be send for the authors of accepted abstracts.
- Authors will be asked to answer questions from the audience (date and time to be confirmed).
- Best abstracts will be formally awarded.
Deadline
- 18/10/2021 – Closing date for abstracts submission
- 24/10/2021 – Closing date for submitting videos (accepted abstracts)
- 01/11/2021 – Videos will be available online.
- 10/11/2021 – Best Abstract Award.
Organization
- Carolina Rosadas (HTLV Channel/ Imperial College London)
- Tatiane Assone (HTLV Channel/ FMUSP/IMT)
- Ricardo Ishak (HTLV Channel/ UFPA)
- Angélica E. Miranda (Ministry of Heatlh, Brazil)
- Graham Taylor (Imperial College London)
- Leandro Soares Sereno (PAHO/WHO)
- Marcelo Araújo de Freitas (PAHO/WHO)
- Ruben Mayorga-Sagastume (PAHO/WHO)
Support
- Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases
- Brazilian Society of Virology
- Brazilian Society of Tropical Medicine
- International Retrovirology Association
- National Centre for Human Retrovirology, Imperial College
- HTLV European Research Network
- Department of Diseases of Chronic Conditions and Sexually Transmitted Infections, Ministry of Health, Brazil
- HTLV Channel
