AIDS Timeline
Key events, important people, activism and breakthroughs
by David Johnson and Shmuel Ross
1981-1983 | 1985-1988 | 1991-1995 | 1996-Present |
1981 | "Gay cancer," later called GRID, (Gay Related Immuno Deficiency) claims 121 deaths in the U.S. since the mid-1970s |
1982 | 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
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1983 | 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
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1985 | Movie 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 |
1986 | 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
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1987 | FDA approves AZT, a potent new drug for AIDS patients, which prolongs the lives of some patients by reducing infections |
1988 | World Health Organization begins World AIDS Day to focus attention on fighting the disease |
1991 | 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 |
1992 | The first clinical trials using combinations of multiple drugs begin |
1993 | U.S. annual AIDS deaths approach 45,000 |
1994 | AIDS-related illnesses are the leading cause of death for adults 25-44 years old in U.S. |
1995 | Saquinavir, the first protease inhibitor (which reduces the ability of AIDS to spread to new cells) is approved
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