Welcome to the AIDS Committee of Windsor

History of HIV/AIDS

A U.S. Perspective

1926

Some scientists believe HIV spread from monkeys to humans between 1926 - 1946. Recent research indicates HIV most probably first jumped from chimpanzees to humans as early as 1675 and didn't establish itself as an epidemic strain in Africa until 1930.

1959

A man died in the Congo in what researchers now say was the first proven AIDS death.

1978

Gay men in the US and Sweden -- and heterosexuals in Tanzania and Haiti -- begin showing signs of what will later be called AIDS.

1980

Deaths in US -- 31 (includes all known cases 1981 and before)

1981

CDC (USA) notices an alarming rate of a rare cancer (Kaposi's Sarcoma) in otherwise healthy gay men. They first call the disease "gay cancer" but soon rename it GRID ("gay-related immune deficiency").
422 cases diagnosed in the U.S.; 159 are dead.

1982

CDC (USA) links the new disease to blood.
The term AIDS ("acquired immune deficiency syndrome") is used for the first time.
US President Ronald Reagan has not mentioned the word "AIDS" in public yet.
The Gay Men's Health Crisis is founded in New York City.
1,614 cases of AIDS diagnosed in the U.S.; 619 are dead.

1983

CDC (USA) warns blood banks of a possible problem with the blood supply.
Institut Pasteur (France) finds the virus (HIV).
US President Ronald Reagan has not mentioned the word "AIDS" in public yet.
4,749 cases of AIDS in the U.S.; 2,122 are dead.

1984

Dr. Robert Gallo (US) claims he discovered the virus that causes AIDS; however, this is about a year after the French discovery.
US President Ronald Reagan has not mentioned the word "AIDS" in public yet.
Opus BBS is released, becoming the first mainstream software system to donate 100% of its proceeds to AIDS care/research.
11,055 cases of AIDS diagnosed in the U.S.; 5,620 are dead, including:

Gaetan Dugas, listed in The Band Played On as "patient zero."

1985

The FDA (US) approves the first HIV antibody test. Blood products begin to be tested in the US and Japan.
The first International Conference on AIDS is held in Atlanta (US).
US President Ronald Reagan has not mentioned the word "AIDS" in public yet.
AmFAR is founded in Los Angeles.
The first AIDS-related play -- The Normal Heart, by Larry Kramer -- opens in New York.
22,996 cases of AIDS diagnosed in the U.S.; 12,592 are dead, including:

Rock Hudson, film star.

1986

US Surgeon General Everett Koop publishes a report on AIDS. It calls for sex education.
Switzerland begins testing of blood products.
US President Ronald Reagan has not mentioned the word "AIDS" in public yet.
ACT UP is founded in New York City.
Ben Gardiner's AIDS BBS goes on-line in San Francisco, CA (USA).
42,255 AIDS cases diagnosed in the U.S.; 24,669 people are dead.

1987

AZT (zidovudine, Retrovir®) -- Glaxo Wellcome -- becomes the first anti-HIV drug approved by the FDA. The recommended dose is one 100mg capsule every four hours around the clock.
Canada stops distribution of tainted blood products.
The US shuts its doors to HIV-infected immigrants and travelers.
After a six year silence, US President Ronald Reagan uses the word "AIDS" in public for the first time. And, Vice President George Bush is heckled when he calls for mandatory HIV testing.
A family -- including three HIV-positive sons (hemophiliacs) -- are driven from their home (Arcadia, Florida, US) after their home was torched by an arsonist.
After an ACT UP demonstration, the FDA announces a two year shortening in the drug-approval process.
The AIDS Memorial Quilt is started in San Francisco (US).
And The Band Played On by Randy Shilts is published.
71,176 AIDS cases diagnosed in the U.S.; 41,027 people are dead, including:

Liberace, entertainer (PCP).
Michael Bennett, Broadway director (Chorus Line).

1988

US bans discrimination against federal workers with HIV.
US mails 107 million copies of "Understanding AIDS," a booklet by Surgeon General C. Everett Koop.
FDA (US) okays importation of non-approved treatment for PWA personal use.
106,994 AIDS cases diagnosed in the U.S.; 62,101 people are dead.

1989

Haiti stops distribution of tainted blood products.
FDA (US) approves pentamidine mist for use against PCP.
After two years of intense ACT UP protests over the price of its drug, AZT, Burroughs Wellcome lowers AZT's price by 20%.
149,902 AIDS cases diagnosed in the U.S.; 89,817 are dead, including:

Amanda Blake, TV star ("Miss Kitty" on Gunsmoke)

1990

Ronald Reagan apologizes for his neglect of the epidemic while he was president (US).
ÆGIS is founded by Sr. Mary Elizabeth and the Sisters Of St. Elizabeth Of Hungary.
198,466 AIDS cases diagnosed in the U.S.; 121,255 are dead, including:

Halston, American fashion designer.
Keith Haring, artist.
Ryan White, teenager, hemophiliac, AIDS activist.

1991

ddI (didanosine, Videx®) -- Bristol-Myers Squibb -- a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, is approved for use in the USA.
10 million have HIV worldwide (WHO). More than a million are in the US (CDC).
Professional basketball player Magic Johnson tells the world he has HIV.
Kimberly Bergalis, who apparently got HIV from her dentist asks the US congress to force health care workers to be tested for HIV.
257,750 AIDS cases diagnosed in the U.S.; 157,637 are dead.

1992

ddC (zalcitabine, Hivid®) -- Roche -- a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, is approved for use in the USA.
First clinical trial of multiple drugs is held.
FDA (US) starts "accelerated approval" -- interim licensing -- to get promising drugs to PWAs faster.
PWAs Bob Hattoy and Elizabeth Glaser give speeches to the US Democratic National Convention.
335,211 AIDS cases diagnosed in the U.S.; 198,322 are dead, including:

Robert Reed, actor

1993

CDC (US) revises its definition of AIDS, including new opportunistic infections.
The so-called "female condom" is approved. In the US, the FDA refused to allow testing for anal sex, saying sodomy is illegal in too many states.
Four French blood bank officials sent to prison for allowing HIV-tainted blood into French blood banks.
Researchers in Europe show taking AZT (monotherapy) early in the disease has no benefits (Concorde study).
411,887 AIDS cases diagnosed in the U.S.; 241,787 are dead, including:

Arthur Ashe, tennis legend.
Rudolf Nureyev, ballet dancer.

1994

d4T (Zerit®) -- Bristol-Myers Squibb -- a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, is approved for use in the USA.
A Benneton advertisement depicts US Pres. Ronald Reagan with K.S. lesions.
478,756 AIDS cases diagnosed in the U.S.; 288,597 are dead, including:

John Curry, Olympic figure skater.
Randy Shilts, Chronicled rise of AIDS.
Elizabeth Glaser, Crusader for Pediatric AIDS.
Dack Rambo, actor

1995

Saquinavir (Invirase®) -- Roche -- is approved for use in the US. This is the first anti-HIV drug in the protease inhibitor class.
3TC (lamivudine; Epivir®) -- Glaxo Wellcome -- a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, is approved for use in the US.
Germany convicts four of selling HIV-tainted blood.
US admits it was the Institut Pasteur (France), not Robert Gallo (NIH, US) who discovered the virus that causes AIDS.
Olympic diver Greg Louganis reveals that he has AIDS.
534,806 AIDS cases diagnosed in the U.S.; 332,249 people are dead, including:

Eric "Easy-E" Wright, "gangsta" rap star.
Paul Monette, Writer of Gay anguish.

1996

Nevirapine (Viramune® -- Roxane Laboratories, approved for use in the US. This is the first anti-HIV drug in the class called non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor.
Ritonavir (Norvir®) -- Abbott -- a protease inhibitor, is approved for use in the USA.
Indinavir (Crixivan®) -- Merck -- a protease inhibitor, is approved for use in the USA.
Japan busts Green Cross Pharmaceutical Corp. for dealing in HIV-tainted blood.
Researchers (UCSF) show Kaposi's sarcoma is caused by a herpes virus.
TIME magazine's 1996 Man of the Year is AIDS researcher Dr. David Ho.
Basketball star Magic Johnson returns to play basketball.
Heavyweight boxer Tommy Morrison announces he is HIV positive.
California voters passed Proposition 215 (55.7% to 44.3%) to allow medical use of marijuana. Arizona passed Proposition 200 by a much larger margin, 65.3% to 34.7%.
548,102 AIDS cases diagnosed in the U.S.; 343,000 people are dead, including:

Peter Adair, filmmaker.

1997

CDC reports first case of probable HIV transmission through kissing.
CDC reports annual AIDS deaths dropped in the U.S.
Approximate total worldwide death count -- 6,400,000.
Approximate number of HIV-positive people worldwide -- 22,000,000. To put this number in perspective, it is larger than the continent of Australia.

1998

FDA approves abacavir (trade name Ziagen) for the treatment of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 (HIV-1) in adults and children.
AIDS Researcher Dr. Jonathan Mann and his wife, Dr. Mary-Lou Clements-Mann, were killed in the crash of Swissair Flight 111.
665,357 AIDS cases diagnosed in the U.S.; 401,028 people are dead.

1999

FDA granted accelerated approval to amprenavir, a new protease inhibitor for use in children four years of age and older and in adults in combination with other antiretrovirals for HIV infection.

2001

Emergence of a "super-virus" is noted in Poz Magazine. This virus is resistant to all forms of currently available treatments for HIV.
Over 40 million HIV infections worldwide, over 22 million dead.
750,000 AIDS cases diagnosed in the U.S.; 450,000 people are dead.

2003

The first AIDS vaccine studies are released. New class of anti-HIV drugs are marketed in the US as fusion inhibitors bringing new hope to those people experiencing drug resistance.
Nearly 50 million HIV infections and 30 million dead worldwide.
900,000 AIDS cases in the U.S., and 500,000 people are dead.
In Canada over 50,000 people are living with HIV.