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"Gay Cancer"
"Gay cancer," later called GRID, (Gay Related Immuno Deficiency) claims 121 deaths in the U.S. since the mid-1970s -
AIDS
Scientists call the new disease AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) Center for Disease Control says sexual contact or infected blood could transmit AIDS; U.S. begins formal tracking of all AIDS cases 285 cases reported in 17 U.S. states, five European countries -
The Virus Is Officially Identified
Dr. Robert Gallo of the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, and Dr. Luc Montagnier of France's Pasteur Institute independently identify Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) that causes AIDS -
Rock Hudson Dies
Rock Hudson DeathRock Hudson ArticleMovie actor Rock Hudson dies of AIDS; the resulting publicity greatly increases AIDS awareness Congress allocates $70 million for AIDS research First international AIDS conference held in Atlanta Blood test for HIV approved; screening of U.S. blood supply begins -
AIDS Spreads
Soviet Union reports first AIDS case Surgeon General C. Everett Koop sends AIDS information to all U.S. households Scientists locate second type of AIDS virus, HIV-2, in West Africa; original virus is HIV-1 -
The First Drug
FDA approves AZT, a potent new drug for AIDS patients, which prolongs the lives of some patients by reducing infections -
World AIDS Day
World Health Organization begins World AIDS Day to focus attention on fighting the disease -
Rate of AIDS Continues to Grow
10 million people worldwide estimated to be HIV-positive, including 1 million in U.S.; more than 36,000 Americans have died of AIDS since the late 1970s -
FDA Tests Experimental AIDS Drugs
The first clinical trials using combinations of multiple drugs begin FDA begins accelerated approval of experimental AIDS drugs -
Americans Continue to Die of AIDS
U.S. annual AIDS deaths approach 45,000 -
AIDS: The Leading Cause of Death
AIDS-related illnesses are the leading cause of death for adults 25-44 years old in U.S. -
First AIDS Inhibitor Approved
Saquinavir, the first protease inhibitor (which reduces the ability of AIDS to spread to new cells) is approved -
AIDS "Cocktail"
Photo of "Cocktail"Patients are often able to delay the onset of full-blown AIDS by taking a combination of as many as 60 different drugs called an AIDS "cocktail" AIDS is 8th leading cause of death in U.S. -
AIDS No Longer Leading Cause of Death in US
Worldwide death toll climbs to 6.5 million (since mid-1970s) U.S. government spends $4.5 billion on AIDS/HIV treatment AIDS-related illnesses drop to the fifth leading cause of death for adults 25-44 years old -
The First AIDS Vaccine
Clinical trials begin for AIDS vaccine, AIDSVAX, the only one of 40 AIDS vaccines developed since 1987, that is considered promising enough to widely test on human volunteers U.S. AIDS deaths drop to 17,000 per year, due to drug therapies; AIDS drops to 14th leading cause of death in U.S. -
AIDS Lowers Life Expectancy In Africa
AIDS cases in Russia rise by one-third, to 360,000 World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that AIDS has caused the life expectancy in Southern Africa to drop from 59 years in the early 1990s to 45 years after 2005 AIDS infections skyrocket in Southeast Asia U.S. government spends $6.9 billion on AIDS/HIV treatment -
Drug-Resistant Stains of HIV
Officials note the spread of drug-resistant strains of HIV 21.8 million people have died of AIDS since the late 1970s; infections rise in Eastern Europe, Russia, India, and Southeast Asia 10% of the population between the ages of 15 and 49 has HIV/AIDS in 16 African countries, while in 7 African countries, infection rates reach 20% -
AIDS Medication Cheapens
Drug companies begin offering AIDS drugs to poor countries at a discount An estimated $6.9 billion is spent in the U.S. on the treatment of AIDS patients AIDS is spreading most rapidly in Eastern Europe and the Russian Federation, with 250,000 new infections in 2001 AIDS has lowered the life expectancy in Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, and Swaziland by 20 years, to under 40 years of age -
First Finger-Prick AIDS Test
HIV is the leading cause of death worldwide for those 15–59 FDA approves the first rapid finger-prick AIDS test -
AIDS and President Bush
President Bush announces PEPFAR, a $15-billion, 5-year plan to combat AIDS in African and Carribean nations WHO announces the "3 by 5" initiative, aiming to start providing AIDS drugs to 3 million people in poor countries by 2005 -
First Saliva-Based AIDS Test
AIDS spreads rapidly in Russia and eastern Europe; according to a UN survey, almost 1% of Russians are HIV-positive FDA approves a saliva-based AIDS test A study finds that the rate of HIV prevalence in Uganda has dropped 70% since the early 1990s, due to local prevention efforts 95% of those with AIDS live in the developing world From 1981 through the end of 2004, more than 20 million people have died of AIDS -
Number of Infected Reaches Its Highest
Saliva Based TestFDA begins approving generic AIDS drugs, enabling U.S.-funded programs to provide more cost-effective treatment to poorer nations Several African nations insist on medication approved by WHO; in response, FDA and WHO agree to share information on generic drugs to expedite their approval The number of people living with HIV in 2005 reached its highest level ever—an estimated 40.3 million people, nearly half of them women. -
Once-A-Day AIDS Pill
The FDA approves the first single-pill, once-a-day AIDS treatment, thereby allowing patients to manage their disease without a complicated regimen of drugs that must be strictly followed to be effective. The pill, called Atripla, is considered an enormous breakthrough in AIDS treatment, and will help prevent the disease from mutating into drug-resistant strains, which occurs when drugs are not taken regularly. Two rival drug companies cooperated in creating the drug. -
Improvement in Information
The World Health Organization revises their figures of the number of people living with AIDS worldwide. In their December 2007 report, the WHO says the number has fallen from 39.5 million to 33.2 million in one year, suggesting that the biggest reason for the 16% decline was improved data collection and more accurate estimates in India and five sub-Saharan African countries. -
The Origin of HIV/AIDS
An international team of researchers announced that new evidence shows the earliest cases of HIV/AIDS circulating between humans occured between 1884 and 1924 in sub-Saharan Africa. A man in Berlin, Germany seems to be cured of AIDS after doctors gave him transplanted blood stem cells from a person naturally resistant to the virus. Doctors hope this case helps in developing therapies that artifically induce the Delta 32 mutation. -
Treatment Becomes More Accessible
President Obama removes the 22-year-old travel ban that prevented HIV-positive people from entering the United States. Four million HIV-positive people in developing and transitional countries are receiving treatments, but over 9 million still need immediate treatment. -
Elizabeth Taylor Dies
Elizabeth Taylor, cofounder of the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR), dies. One of the first public personalities to devote time and money toward HIV and AIDS-related projects and charities, she helps raise over $100 million and expand public awareness in her thirty years as an AIDS activist.
