World's highest rate of leukaemia virus type 1 found in Central Australian Aboriginal communities

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2021-12-09 06:00

Australia; NSW; VIC; SA; NT

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The rate of human T cell leukaemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection in Aboriginal communities in central Australia is the highest reported worldwide, according to Aussie researchers who studied 720 people in seven remote Aboriginal communities in central Australia and found that the rates of HTLV-1 infection are 36.8 per cent. Sexual contact is likely to be the predominant mode of transmission, say the researchers, as the number of infected individuals increases with age reaching 49.3 per cent for those older than 45 years. The researchers suggest that a coordinated program to inform Aboriginal Australians of the risks posed by the virus is required as there is no treatment that directly targets the virus and the infection is lifelong.

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From:

Journal/
conference: PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, The Kirby Institute for Infection and Immunity in Society, The University of New South Wales, Flinders University

Funder: This project was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (project grant 1088517)(awarded to LE, KW, KT, and AG). The funder had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or manuscript preparation.

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