AIDS: A 30-Year Timeline

On June 5th, 1981, the CDC released its first public report about HIV and AIDS. Since then, nearly 30 million people have died from AIDS-related causes worldwide. Check out this timeline of major challenges and successes that have faced our planet since we've known about HIV/AIDS.

1981

On June 5th, the U.S. Center for Disease Control publishes a report explaining that an unknown cause has stricken 5 gay men in Los Angeles with a rare pneumonia.

The first cases of this mysterious cause are among gay men, and later, injecting drug users. 121 people reportedly die from the disease by the end of the year.

1982

The name Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is coined.

AIDS is reported among haemophiliacs who have received blood tranfusions in the U.S.

1983

The first AIDS cases among non-drug using women and children arise.

One thousand people in the U.S. have died of AIDS.

1984

Scientists identify the Human Immunodeciency Virus (HIV) and link it to the cause of AIDS.

Scientists discover that AIDS is present in Africa.

1985

HIV begins to be screened in blood tests.

Movie star Rock Hudson becomes the first major celebrity to announce that he has contracted AIDS.

AIDS is reported in China.

1986

More than 38,000 AIDS cases have been reported worldwide.

1987

AZT becomes the first drug to treat AIDS.

1988

The U.S. government conducts its first national AIDS education campaign.

The first World AIDS Day takes place held on December 1st.

1991

NBA basketball star Magic Johnson announces that he is HIV positive, helping to reduce the myth that the virus only affects gay men in America.

1995

The Joint United Nationas Programme on AIDS (UNAIDS) is established.

1996

Patients show success in using comination antiretroviral treatment, a combination of drugs sometimes known as a "drug cocktail."

The World Health Organization provides the first medical guidelines that prevent mother-to-child tranmission of HIV.

1997

An estimated 22 million people are living with HIV worldwide.

2002

Botswana is the first African country to begin a national AIDS treatment program.

2003

The first possible HIV vaccine to be tested widely is found inneffective.

2006

Only 28% of HIV positive people in developing countries are receiving treatment.

2007

An estimated 33 million people are living with HIV.

2010

The United States removes the travel ban that prevents HIV-positive people from entering America.

Researchers conduct a study in which there was a 44% reduction in infection risk among HIV-negative participants if they took a daily dose of antiretroviral drugs.

Doctors cure an HIV positive man after five years of bone marrow transplants and radiation therapy. As of 2011, the approach will only work for a small number of people.

2011

Researchers provide an HIV vaccine to monkeys, and it works on half of the test subjects.

Sources:

Avert

UNAIDS