Timeline of HIV/AIDS in the United States

African Americans and HIV/AIDS

1969 – An African-American teenager from St. Louis died of AIDS-like symptoms. HIV or a closely related virus was found in tissue samples from the young man that had been frozen at the time of his death. This case indicates that HIV was present in the United States before the 1970s

1980 – 31 deaths in the U.S., later would be found to be HIV-related

1981 – June 5th the first reports from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of an illness that would be known as AIDS.

1982 – The term “Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome” (AIDS) replaced “Gay-Related Immune Deficiency (GRID).

New risks were identified: transfusion, mother-to-infant transmission, hemophilia, Haitian heritage, and injection drug use, which lead to the controversial: “4H group” (homosexuals, hemophiliacs, Haitians, and heroin users).

1983 – CDC clarifies its use of term “high risk group” and urges that it not be used to justify discrimination or unwarranted fear of casual transmission.

The virus that causes AIDS was identified. It was originally called “lymphadenopathy – associated virus (LAV) by Luc Montagnier from the Pasteur Institute and human T-cell leukemia virus-III (HTLV-III) by Robert Gallo. The name was later changed to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

1984 – Gaetan Dugas, a French flight attendant who author Randy Shilts (“The Band Played On”) identified as “patient zero” responsible for introducing the epidemic to the US, dies.

1985 – Rock Hudson, Actor, dies of AIDS.

Ryan White, 13, diagnosed with AIDS, fights to attend school.

FDA approved first enzyme linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) test kit to screen for antibodies to HIV.

1986 – Surgeon General C. Everett Koop urges parents and schools to begin “frank open discussion” about AIDS.

1987 – The FDA approves AZT as the first anti-HIV drug.

Liberace, Emmy-award winning pianist, dies of AIDS.

The AIDS Memorial Quilt begins in San Francisco, CA.

And the Band Played On is published by Randy Shilts.

1988 – World Health Organizations designates December 1st as “World AIDS Day”, as an opportunity for “governments, national AIDS programmes, nongovernmental and local organizations, as well as individuals everywhere to demonstrate both the importance they attached to the combat against AIDS and their solidarity in this effort.”

A World United Against AIDS*

1989 – U.S. AIDS cases were reported to have reached 100,000.

Our lives, Our World – Let’s Take Care of Each Other*

1990 – Ryan White dies of AIDS

Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resource Emergency (CARE) Act, federal legislation that addresses the unmet health needs of persons living with HIV disease (PLWH) by funding primary health care and support services, is enacted.

Women and AIDS*

1991 – Earvin “Magic” Johnson, NBA star discloses that he is HIV positive

The red ribbon became an international symbol of AIDS awareness during 1991. The organization Visual AIDS in New York, together with Broadway Cares, and Equity Fights AIDS, established the wearing of a Red Ribbon as something that signified support for people living with HIV/AIDS.

Freddie Mercury of the rock group Queen die of AIDS.

Sharing the Challenge*

1992 – The FDA approves dideoxcytidine (ddC), for use in combination with zidovudine (AZT) as a treatment option for adults with advanced HIV disease, this was the first drug approved under the principles and procedures of FDA’s proposed accelerated drug approval policy.

Arthur Ashe confirms that he has AIDS.

Anthony Perkins, star of the movie Psycho and Robert Reed, the father from TV’s The Brady Bunch, die of AIDS.

AIDS: A Community Commitment*

1993 – President Clinton establishes White House Office of National AIDS Policy.

Tony Kushner’s Angels in America, wins the Tony award and Pulitzer Prize.

Arthur Ashe dies of AIDS.

Time to Act*

1994 – FDA approves an oral HIV-antibody test, the first non blood-based collection kit, OraSure®

Randy Shilts, author of And the Band Played On, Pedro Zamora, of MTV’s The Real World, and Elizabeth Glaser, co-founder of the Pediatric AIDS Foundation, die of AIDS.

AIDS and the Family*

1995 – First National HIV Testing Day, sponsored by National Association of People with AIDS.

Greg Louganis, Olympic diver, discloses that he is HIV positive.

Eazy E, of NWA (creators of “gangsta rap”) and Paul Monette, author die of AIDS.

Ryan White CARE Act reauthorization

Shared Rights, Shared Responsibilities*

1996 – FDA approves first non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor; viral load tests; HIV urine test and HIV home testing and collection kit.

Heavyweight Tommy Morrison announces that he is HIV positive.

TIME magazine names Dr. David Ho, a pioneer in AIDS research, is named 1996’s Man of the Year

One World, One Hope*

1997 – AIDS-related deaths in the U.S. decline by more than 40% compared to the prior year, largely due to the advent of combination therapy.

Children Living in a World with AIDS*

1998 – African American leaders declare “state of emergency” in the African American community because of AIDS.

Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) calls on DHHS Secretary Shalala to declare public health emergency; Congress approves $156 million for the Minority HIV/AIDS Initiative, coinciding with Surgeon General Satcher’s efforts to address racial and ethnic health disparities.

The U.S. Supreme Court in Bragdon v. Abbot rules that the Americans with Disabilities Act covers those in earlier stages of HIV disease, not just AIDS.

Scientists at the 12th World Aids Conference in Geneva have identified two people with HIV who were resistant to the drug 'cocktail' that is the standard treatment. In each of these cases the virus was spread from someone who had been treated with protease inhibitors to someone who did not have the infection.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention release Young People at Risk: HIV/AIDS Among America’s Youth, in which it was announced that 1/2 of all new HIV infections in the United States occur in young people under the age of 25 and 1/4 of new infections occur among people between the ages of 13 and 21.

Force for Change: World AIDS Campaign with Young People*

1999 – Congressional Hispanic Caucus, with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute convene a Congressional hearing on impact of HIV/AIDS on Latino community.

World Health Organization’s, World Health Report, 1999 declares HIV as the world’s leading cause of infectious death.

Listen, Learn, Live! World AIDS Campaign with Children and Young People*

2000 – Ryan White CARE Act Amendments of 2000 reauthorize the CARE Act.

The FDA approves Kaletra®, a protease inhibitor; Videx EC®, a once-a-day capsule version of ddI; Trizivir®, a new drug that combines 3 drugs in one pill.

“Break the Silence” was the theme XIII International AIDS conference in Durban, South Africa, and 5000 scientists affirming the overwhelming evidence that HIV causes AIDS signed the “Durban Declaration”.

1st National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, February 7th.

AIDS: Men Make a Difference*

2001 – 20th Anniversary of CDC’s report on HIV/AIDS.

Sixty-two young people representing 26 countries present a Youth Position Paper calling on world leaders to address youth issues relating to HIV

The CDC releases a report on the Young Men's Survey (YMS), a study that found a high prevalence of HIV and associated risks among men who have sex with men aged 15-22 years sampled in seven U.S. cities, confirmed high HIV incidence among these young men.

Men Make a Difference: “I care…Do you?”*

2002 – FDA approves the OraQuick®, the first rapid HIV diagnostic test kit for use in the United States. The test is easy to use and produces reliable results in 20 minutes.

Stigma and Discrimination: “Live and Let Live”*

2003 – Gene Anthony Ray, “LeRoy” of the 1980 Academy Award winning movie “Fame” died of AIDS.

CDC reports increases in HIV infections.

1st National Latino AIDS Awareness Day, October 15th.

FDA approved FUZEON, the first of a new class of drugs known as “fusion inhibitors.”

Stigma and Discrimination: “Live and Let Live”*

2004 – KNOW HIV/AIDS broadcasted an HIV-related public service announcement during Super Bowl XXXVIII

Women and AIDS*

2005 – Ryan White CARE Act is up for reauthorization.

* World AIDS Day theme