Timeline: HIV
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Posted By: Tawain Kelly on March 25, 2006 *1981: In March the first recognized cases of AIDS emerge in New York City and San Francisco when eight men develop similar rare infections similar to cancer *In August cases are reported in the UK and in injection drug users in the US *1982: Little is known about transmission of the virus, and public anxiety mounts. The disease is described as the “gay cancer”, or “gay-related immunodeficiency” *Becomes clear that a wide-range of people are infected when a 20 month child dies of AIDS after a blood transfusion. Harold Jaffe from the CDC states, “When it began turning up in children and transfusion recipients, that was a turning point in terms of public perception. Up until then it was a gay epidemic, and it was easy for the average person to say ‘So What?’ Now everyone could relate…” *People begin to realize the disease is world-wide; as it is discovered that a disease known as a “slim” in Africa is actually AIDS *1983: More cases emerge, and it becomes clear that the disease is passed heterosexually as well *Public fear over HIV contaminated blood supply erupts; in the United Kingdom it is referred to as “killer blood” *Fear about HIV/AIDS continues to spread. The New York Times states, “In many parts of the world there is anxiety, bafflement, a sense that something has to be done- although no one knows what...” *1985: US Food and Drug Administration licenses the first commercial blood test for AIDS *An epidemic of fear and prejudice continues- Ryan White, a 13 year old boy who contracted HIV through a blood transfusion, is banned from school in the US *First cases are found in China, and the first reported transmission of HIV from mother to child is reported *1986: In September tests show that “azidothymidine” (AZT) slows down the attack of AIDS virus, and it becomes the first antiretroviral drug *The epidemic continues to expand, 85 countries report AIDS cases *1989: The first “World AIDS Day” is held in December *The head of the WHO’s AIDS program states, “Eastern Europe is the new frontier for the AIDS epidemic” after it is reported that many children are inflected in Romania *1991: Basketball player Magic Johnson announces he is HIV positive, and retires from the sport * A few weeks later the lead singer from Queen, Freddy Mercury, announces he has AIDS, and dies the next day *The Red Ribbon becomes an international symbol of AIDS awareness *1993: Researchers find some HIV positive people have become resistant to AZT without ever taking it. As a result, there is an urgent need for new antiretroviral drugs *1994: The Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) is created in July in order to better address the global crisis *1996: The FDA approves “Nevirapine” as an effective antiretroviral drug for prohibiting the transmission of HIV from mother to child *Combination drug therapies are found effective in combating the virus, although most developing countries can not afford these treatments *New outbreaks erupt in Eastern Europe, the former Soviet union, India, and China *1997: For the first time since the emergence of the virus, the number of AIDS related deaths decrease in the United States *However, UNAIDS reports that the world-wide epidemic more serious than previously expected. It was thought that 22 million were infected, but the number is actually 30 million *1998: In South Africa the AIDS activists Gugu Dlamini is beaten to death for revealing her HIV positive status *Sub-Saharan Africa becomes home to 70% of all infections worldwide *1999: AIDS is officially the fourth leading cause of death worldwide *South Africa demands a price cut from drug companies for antiretroviral medication, claiming that millions are dying because they cannot afford the drugs *The Kenyan president declares AIDS a national disaster *2001: After years of denial, China admits its AIDS problem and states that it might have 6 million infected by 2005 *The Indian drug company Cipla produces antiretroviral drugs at reduced rates (for under $1 a day), and puts pressure on other drug companies to do the same *2002: “Kami” becomes the first HIV positive character on South Africa’s “Sesame Street” *2003: The Catholic Church continues to preach out against condoms. Vatican Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo wrongly claims, “When a condom is employed as a contraceptive, it is not totally dependable, and the cases of pregnancy are not rare In the case of the AIDS virus which is around 450 times smaller than the sperm cell, the condom’s latex material obviously gives much less security.” *Drug companies lower the price of antiretroviral medications, however, UNAIDS warns that the world response to the AIDS epidemic is “entirely inadequate” *The World Health Organization announces a new plan, “3 by 5”, which’s goal is to supply 3 million people in the developing world with antiretroviral medication by 2005 *Wen Jiabao becomes the first Chinese premier to shake hands with an AIDS patient, signifying a new determination to fight AIDS in China *2005: Currently, UNAIDS estimates that 39.4 million people worldwide are infected with HIV. While some developed nations have been able to control their epidemics, more needs to be done to stop the rampant spread of the virus is low resource countries. Only through education and awareness initiatives, prevention programs, and low cost treatment options, will the world have the capacity to begin eradicating this devastating virus. What do you think? Now our community has the highest rate of HIV/AIDS cases Change If I could change one thing It would be how you see things Instead of letting he hit you and you seeing Black and Blue If I could change one things I would take away the pain of the world. No more talks of WAR No more killing or robbing I would change that one day. No more sad goodbyes to a friend, a sister, a brother, a mother, a father or a grandparent to AIDS. Straight man, Straight woman Gay man, Lesbian anyone in between, you all know me. If we all see what is valuable to our self and respect what is valuable to other then maybe change will come. Black, white, Hispanic, Chinese what ever race. You all matter If we can accept our own individuality then change is surly to come If music is the key then we all should sing a song Then the world would be in one tune If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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Tawain Kelly
Freelance Video Photographer , Ty Photography Benedict College class of 2007 Member Since May 2005 |
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