World AIDS Day brings awareness to stopping the spread of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and the often resulting Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). AIDS in America gained prominence in the 1980s when cases were relatively new and scientists had little understanding of the disease.
Here's a timeline of major HIV/AIDS-related events:
June 1981: First Cases of AIDS reported by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
Five cases of men in Los Angeles developing advanced pneumonia made health officials curious as to how their symptoms got so severe in a short amount of time. Two of the patients died, according to the CDC. When officials discovered more details, there were similar cases in other metropolitan areas to consider.
March 1983: CDC issues recommendations
The CDC issued its first recommendations on preventing the spread of HIV. Scientists discovered the disease was spread by sexual contact or sharing bodily fluids, such as blood and semen. Using contaminated needles or a contaminated blood transfusion was found be a major transmitter of HIV.
Nov. 7, 1991: Earvin "Magic" Johnson retires from basketball
At 32, Magic Johnson retired at the prime of his NBA career when he announced he had AIDS. Thanks to the drugs he takes, Johnson still leads a full life and can concentrate on his business interests while running a charity at the same time, according to USA Today. Around the same time, Olympic diver Greg Louganis also became HIV-positive; he also lives a full life, according to a People magazine story.
1992: Elton John AIDS Foundation created
Singer and songwriter Elton John created his own charity, the Elton John AIDS Foundation, in New York City in 1992. Its purpose is to help fund prevention programs to stop the spread of HIV and AIDS throughout the world. He founded a separate charity in London a year later and together the two organizations have raised more than $220 million and helped fight AIDS in 55 countries.
1992: AIDS cases peak at 78,000
The CDC states the number of new AIDS cases in the United States peaked at 78,000 in 1992. After that, cases gradually taper off.
1998: New AIDS cases level off
Since 1998, there have been an average of 40,000 new cases per year. In between 1992 and 1998, the overall number of AIDS cases decrease 47 percent.
2003: PEPFAR created by George W. Bush
President George W. Bush announces the creation of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in order to combat the spread of AIDS. The five-year, $15 billion initiative is the first of its kind, according to the Family Research Council. In 2008 Bush asked for another five years worth of funding.
July 2010: Studies move forward on HIV vaccine
Although AIDS currently has no cure or a vaccine, WebMD states an antibody has been discovered that neutralizes 91 percent of HIV strains. This new information can now allow scientists to move forward to create a vaccine.
WebMD also talks about 25 different drugs currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treatment of HIV and its complications. Medications are used to lower the patient's viral load and fight secondary infections.
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