the history of HIV and aids

T18

1900s

1968

In North America, the earliest case of AIDS was confirmed in 16 year-old Robert Rayford. He had never gotten a blood transfusion and never left the Midwest.

The earliest case of HIV was found in a blood sample from the Democratic Republic of Congo. It was believed to have been spread through contact with chimpanzee blood while hunting.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a report on five gay, and previously healthy, men in Los Angeles with cases of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP). This marked the start of the AIDS epidemic.

1981

1982

The media labels the "four H-club" as people who have a high risk for receiving HIV and AIDS: hemophiliacs, heroin users, homosexuals, and Haitians or those of Haitian descent.

Margaret Heckler, a secretary for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, states Dr. Robert Gallo and his colleagues have discovered that HIV is the cause of AIDS. She also mentions the development of a HIV detecting blood test.

1984

1987

The first treatment of HIV was identified as azidothymidine, or zidovudine. This treatment can help to decrease mother to child transmission of the virus.

1995

In 1995, AIDS is known as a leading cause of death with 500,000 cases reported in the U.S. alone and 50,000 Americans died from causes related to AIDS. Of these 50,000, 49% were African-American.

1997

Due to the new HAART treatment for HIV, death rates decrease by 47%. Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) becomes the common treatment for HIV care.

1997

A new development of a combined drug therapy, Combivir, is approved by the FDA. Combivir makes it easier on people who have HIV and take medication, as well, because it is two antiretroviral drugs in one tablet.

2002

A new, FDA-approved HIV diagnostic test kit can identify AIDS in 20 minutes. Hospitals are now able to give results with 99.6% accuracy in a shorter amount of time.

In 1987, a ban on travelers with HIV was established. In 2009, President Obama lifted this ban, allowing visitors and immigrants with HIV to travel freely.

2010

The first National HIV Testing Day is founded by the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA). Groups and communities come together to fight the stigma that come with this virus.

1995

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is approved by the FDA. PrEP is a medication that reduces risk of obtaining HIV through sexual contact or needle use. Recommended by doctors, PrEP should be taken by anyone in a relationship with someone who has HIV.

2012

In 1985, blood banks began screening for HIV and led to the ban on homosexual men donating blood. In 2015, the FDA lifted some of the ban's limitations, and donors can now give blood if there has been no sexual contact with another man for at least a year.

2015

Researchers internationally studied over 1,900 patients with HIV and had failed to respond to tenofovir, an antiretroviral drug important in HIV treatment medication. This concluded that resistance to HIV treatment and medication was becoming common.

DRUG DISCOVERY

HIV AND AIDS

T18

1900s

1968

In North America, the earliest case of AIDS was confirmed in 16 year-old Robert Rayford. He had never gotten a blood transfusion and never left the Midwest.

The earliest case of HIV was found in a blood sample from the Democratic Republic of Congo. It was believed to have been spread through contact with chimpanzee blood while hunting.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a report on five gay, and previously healthy, men in Los Angeles with cases of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP). This marked the start of the AIDS epidemic.

1981

1982

The media labels the "four H-club" as people who have a high risk for receiving HIV and AIDS: hemophiliacs, heroin users, homosexuals, and Haitians or those of Haitian descent.

Margaret Heckler, a secretary for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, states Dr. Robert Gallo and his colleagues have discovered that HIV is the cause of AIDS. She also mentions the development of a HIV detecting blood test.

1984

1987

The first treatment of HIV was identified as azidothymidine, or zidovudine. This treatment can help to decrease mother to child transmission of the virus.

1995

In 1995, AIDS is known as a leading cause of death with 500,000 cases reported in the U.S. alone and 50,000 Americans died from causes related to AIDS. Of these 50,000, 49% were African-American.

1997

Due to the new HAART treatment for HIV, death rates decrease by 47%. Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) becomes the common treatment for HIV care.

1997

A new development of a combined drug therapy, Combivir, is approved by the FDA. Combivir makes it easier on people who have HIV and take medication, as well, because it is two antiretroviral drugs in one tablet.

2002

A new, FDA-approved HIV diagnostic test kit can identify AIDS in 20 minutes. Hospitals are now able to give results with 99.6% accuracy in a shorter amount of time.

In 1987, a ban on travelers with HIV was established. In 2009, President Obama lifted this ban, allowing visitors and immigrants with HIV to travel freely.

2010

The first National HIV Testing Day is founded by the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA). Groups and communities come together to fight the stigma that come with this virus.

1995

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is approved by the FDA. PrEP is a medication that reduces risk of obtaining HIV through sexual contact or needle use. Recommended by doctors, PrEP should be taken by anyone in a relationship with someone who has HIV.

2012

In 1985, blood banks began screening for HIV and led to the ban on homosexual men donating blood. In 2015, the FDA lifted some of the ban's limitations, and donors can now give blood if there has been no sexual contact with another man for at least a year.

2015

Researchers internationally studied over 1,900 patients with HIV and had failed to respond to tenofovir, an antiretroviral drug important in HIV treatment medication. This concluded that resistance to HIV treatment and medication was becoming common.

2016