Skip to content

Timeline of HIV

For citations and resources see hiv.gov/hiv-basics/overview/history/hiv-and-aids-timeline.

1930s

Scientists believe that HIV originally came from a virus particular to chimpanzees in West Africa. This virus was transmitted to humans from the blood of hunted chimpanzees.

1981

The world started to become aware of HIV & AIDS through word of mouth and the news. This was because rare types of pneumonia, cancer, and other illnesses were being reported within the young gay male population.

By the end of the year, 337 reported cases of individuals with severe immune deficiency were reported. 130 of them had died by December 31st.

1982

AIDS was originally called the Gay-Related Immune Deficiency (GRID), which would deepen stigma associated with HIV & AIDS only affecting gay men.

The CDC first uses the term AIDS and releases the first definition of it.

1983

CDC publishes an article stating most cases of AIDS are reported among gay men with multiple sexual partners, people who inject drugs, Haitians, and people with hemophilia.

The CDC also publishes the first set of occupational exposure precautions for health care workers and allied health professionals.

1985

The CDC revises their AIDS definition to include that AIDS is caused by a newly identified virus. They also issue provisional guidelines for blood screening.

1985

The World Health Organization (WHO) & the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services hosted the first International AIDS Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.

The U.S. Congress allocates nearly $190 million for AIDS research.

Ryan White, an Indiana teenager who contracted AIDS through contaminated blood products used to treat his hemophilia, is refused entry to his middle school.

1986

The International Committee on the Taxonomy of Viruses announces that the virus that causes AIDS will officially be known as “Human Immunodeficiency Virus” (HIV).

The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) begins its AIDS Service Demonstration Grants program.

The Surgeon General issues a report makes it clear that HIV cannot be spread casually and calls for nationwide education, increased use of condoms, and voluntary HIV testing.

1987

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves the first medication for AIDS – AZT. This antiretroviral drug initially was developed to treat cancer.

The U.S. Public Health Services adds HIV as a “dangerous contagious disease” to its immigration exclusion list and mandates testing for all visa applicants. This HIV ban will not be lifted until January 4th, 2010.

The AIDS Memorial Quilt goes on display for the first time in Washington DC.

1988

World AIDS Day is observed for the first time.

1989

The number of reported AIDS cases in the United States reaches 100,000.

1990

April 8th: Ryan White dies of AIDS-related illness at the age of 18.

August: U.S. Congress enacts the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency Act (CARE) of 1990. This act provided $220.5 million in federal funds for HIV community-based care and treatment services in its first year.

1991

U.S. Congress enacted the Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (HOPWA) Act of 1991. This act provides grants, to states and local communities, housing assistance to people living with AIDS.

1993

The FDA approves the female condom.

The CDC expands the case definition of AIDS, declaring those with CD4 counts below 200 to have AIDS.

The FDA imposes a lifetime ban on donating blood for all men who have ever had sex with another man.

1994

AIDS becomes the leading cause of death for all Americans ages 25 to 44.

The FDA approves the first non-blood based antibody test for HIV.

1995

The National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) launches the first National HIV Testing Day.

The CDC issues the first guidelines to help health care providers prevent opportunistic infections in people infected with HIV.

By October 31st, 500,000 cases of AIDS have been reported in the US.

1996

The number of new AIDS cases diagnosed in the U.S. declines for the first time since the beginning of the epidemic.

AIDS is no longer the leading cause of death for all Americans ages 25-44.

1997

The FDA approves Combivir, a combination of two antiretroviral drugs in one tablet. This makes it easier for people living with HIV to take their medications.

1998

The CDC issues the first national treatment guidelines for the use of antiretroviral therapy in adults and adolescents with HIV.

1999

The first National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD) is launched. It’s a grassroots-education effort to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS prevention, care, and treatment in communities of color.

2002

The FDA approves the first rapid HIV diagnostic test kit for use in the U.S. that provides results with 99.6% accuracy in as little as 20 minutes.

2006

June 5th marks 25 years since the first AIDS cases were reported.

September 22nd the CDC releases revised HIV testing recommendations for health care settings. They recommend routine HIV screening for all adults, aged 13-64, and yearly screening for those at high risk.

2007

The CDC reports over 565,000 people have died of AIDS in the U.S. since 1981.

2011

A new CDC study and a Partners PrEP study show the first evidence that a daily oral dose of antiretroviral drugs can also reduce HIV acquisition among uninfected individuals exposed to the virus.

2012

The FDA approves the use of Truvada for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Adults who do not have HIV, but who are at risk for infection, can now take this medication to reduce their risk of getting the virus through sexual activity.

2014

FDA recommends changing the blood donor deferral guidelines for men who have sex with men from permanent deferral to one year since the last sexual contact.

2023

FDA updates its blood donor eligibility guidance, ending long standing discriminatory policies that excluded gay and bisexual people from donating blood while maintaining appropriate safeguards to protect recipients of blood products.