The first recognised cases of Aids occurred in America in the summer of 1981, and soon afterwards in
There are two viruses associated with Aids, namely HIV-1 and HIV-2
AIDS-related illnesses have killed more than 30 million people since 1981. That's half as many deaths as in
World War II. And it's not over. An estimated 1.1 million Americans are among the 33 million people
worldwide who are now living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
A TIMELINE ON AIDS
HIV-1 is associated with infection in most parts of Africa, America, Europe and the rest of the world, while HIV-2 occurs mostly in West-Africa. There are many subtypes of HIV-1 (for example subtype C which is most prominent in South Africa).There are many theories about the origin of Aids, but the truth is that nobody really knows where Aids came from. The most widely accepted theory is that HIV crossed the species barrier from primates to humans at some time during the twentieth century.HIV is related to a virus called SIV (simian immunodeficiency virus) which is found in primates such as chimpanzees, Macaque and African green monkeys. The virus probably crossed from primates to humans when contaminated animal blood entered cuts on the hands of humans who were butchering SIV-infected animals for food.While the initial spread of HIV was probably limited to isolated communities who had little contact with the outside world, various factors such as migration, improved transportation networks, socio-economic instability, multiple sexual partners, intravenous drug use and an exchange of blood products, ultimately caused the virus to spread all over the world.
In 1900,
- a hunter got the AIDS virus from a Pan troglodytes chimpanzee.
- in this era it has been transfeerd from monkeys to humans.
- Between 1884 and 1924, somewhere near modern-day Kinshasa in West Central Africa, a hunter kills a chimpanzee,
- Some of the animal's blood enters the hunter's body, possibly through an open wound,
- The blood carries a virus harmless to the chimp, but lethal to humans: HIV. The virus spreads as colonial cities sprout up, but deaths are blamed on other causes.
In 1981 ,the first case of AIDS was recognised i.e people suffering from KAPOSI'S SARCOMA
- In June, the CDC publishes a report from Los Angeles of five young homosexual men with fatal or life-threatening PCP pneumonia.
- never seen in people with intact immune systems.
- PCP turns out to be one of the major "opportunistic infections" that kill people with AIDS.
- On the Fourth of July, the CDC reports that an unusual skin cancer -- Kaposi's sarcoma or KS -- is killing young, previously healthy men in New York City and California.
In1982, sub saharan africa AIDS IS known to b as "SLIM DISEASE "
The CDC calls the new disease acquired immune deficiency syndrome or
AIDS. AIDS is seen in people with hemophilia, convincing scientists that
the disease is spread by an infectious agent in contaminated blood.Gay men form the first AIDS advocacy organizations.In 1983,
A baby with AIDS, abandoned after her mother's death from the disease.
- The CDC warns that AIDS may spread by heterosexual sex and by mother-to-child transmission.
- The U.S. Public Health Service asks "members of groups at increased risk for AIDS" to stop donating blood.
- The Heterosexual spread of AIDS in Africa is confirmed.
- Public apprehension grows. False rumors of "household spread" abound. In New York, landlords are reported to evict AIDS patients.
In 1983 ,
In 1984,
National Cancer Institute (NCI) researcher Robert Gallo reports isolation of an AIDS virus he calls HTLV-III. Later, it turns out to be LAV from a sample sent by the Montagnier lab -- but not before HHS Secretary Margaret Heckler gives Gallo full credit. Heckler predicts a vaccine in two years, but does not specifically fund AIDS research.
IN 1985 ,
Rock Hudson dies of AIDS.As AIDS hysteria builds, Ryan White is barred from school in Indiana.
AmFAR, the American Foundation for AIDS Research, is founded with Elizabeth Taylor as spokeswoman.
IN 1989 ,
Scientists find that even before AIDS symptoms develop, HIV
replicates wildly in the bloodThe goal of treatment shifts to keeping HIV at low levels.Robert Mapplethorpe dies of AIDS.
In 1991- 1992,
Elizabeth taylor addresses the International AIDS Conference in Amsterdam
- The red ribbon is introduced as a symbol of AIDS solidarity.
- Magic Johnson announces he is HIV positive.
- Queen singer Freddy Mercury dies of AIDS.
- AIDS becomes the leading cause of death in U.S. men aged 25-44.
- FDA licenses the first rapid HIV test.
In 1998-2000,
AIDS treatment worked -- but it meant many different pills, many times a day.Awareness grows that HAART has serious side effects. Treatment failures underscore the need for newer, more powerful drugs. In the ensuing years, the FDA approves new classes of drugs that make HIV treatment safer, easier, and more effective. But the drugs still do not cure AIDS.Treatment is still totally unavailable to the vast majority of people living with HIV. Only 1% of the 4.1 million sub-Saharan Africans with HIV receive anti-HIV drugs. AIDS becomes the leading cause of death worldwide for people aged 15 to 59.
In ,2006-2007,
HIV treatment is shown to extend life by 24 years, at a cost of $618,900.Merck's HIV vaccine fails in clinical trials -- the latest in a long line of vaccine failures. However, new candidate vaccines continue to move through the development pipeline.UNAIDS recommends adult circumcision after it's found to halve HIV transmission from women to men in regions of high prevalence.
In 2008 ,
HIV discoverers Barre-Sinoussi and Montagnier win Nobel Prize.
- Luc Montagnier and Francoise Barre-Sinoussi awarded Nobel Prize in medicine for discovery of HIV.
- Of the 33 million people now living with HIV, 3 million are getting treatment. That's less than a third of those who need immediate treatment. Yet for the first time, global AIDS deaths decline.
HOPE FOR TOMMOROW ... !!!!
HIV-neutralizing antibody may lead to new vaccines ,One antibody in particular, PGT 128, is considered among the most potent and promising -- preventing about 70% of viruses from infecting cells in laboratory tests.
read this : This is an excellent article; and it is somewhat correct in saying nobody knows where AIDS came from...Fundamentally, disease starts with lack of sanitation followed by infected people with a weakened immune system.. I well remember the SanFrancisco news in 1982 about AIDS being originated in the Sutro Bath House where male homosexuals were well known to congregate and to have group sex..I personally observed that from a distance as they had a sidewalk sign saying family bath.... My conclusion is that AIDS/HIV has several origins..Contaminated vaccine needles in Africa, perhaps monkey meat and blood entering cuts on hands, drug users sharing needles, male anal sexual activities, and probably some other origins all related to serious lack of proper sanitation...The post which states sex has nothing to do with aids is far far off base...unless it just refers to heterosexual sex.. Male group sex in SanFran in 1982 was considered by several medical researshers and experts the origin...Other origins were later postulated...Obviously Aids/Hiv could have had more than one origin… Many many people around the world just want to do anything they please, ingnore the consequences, and expect science to solve their problem for them… Most religious organizations should stop preaching hellfire and brimstone and donate some monies to research.. Monogamy, abstinence, virginity are all very virtuous....but most of us are not up to the task… And, when it comes to sharing needles, Hepetitis C is no cakewalk...and drug useage does indeed weaken most immune systems… |
references:
- from where did aids come from :- http://www.health.am/aids/more/where_does_aids_come_from/
- picture courtesy :- http://www.medicinenet.com/aids_retrospective_pictures_slideshow/article.htm
