30Years Of Fighting AIDS

 On today, 30 years of fighting AIDS are completed. As AIDS was first tracked on 5th June 1981 by U.S. health agencies as an unusual clusters of diseases that would later be identified as Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
AIDS is a chronic disease caused by caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). After the diagnosis of the disease, only in America 750,000 people died in these 30 years while more than 110,000 people are still fighting with this disease only in U.S.
Here we look at now the statistics for the most populous countries in terms of AIDS.

3.3 million people are living with AIDS Nigeria

2.5 million people are living with AIDS India

980,000 people are living with AIDS Russia

740,000 people are living with HIV in China

310,000 people are living with aids Indonesia

280,000 people are living with aids vietnam

220,000 people are living with AIDS Mexico

98,000 people are living with AIDS Pakistan

92,000 people are living with AIDS Iran

67,000 people are living with AIDS Germany

11,000 people are living with AIDS Egypt

8,700 people are living with aids philippines

8,100 people are living with AIDS Japan

6,300 people are living with AIDS Bangladesh

4,600 people are living with AIDS Turkey

Baby diagnosed with AIDS

1982

In a discovery that changed the perception of how the virus is spread, an infant is diagnosed as the first AIDS case from a blood transfusion.

AIDS is proposed by health officials to replace GRID as HIV is found not just in homosexuals.

Doctor isolates retrovirus

1983

Dr. Francoise Barré-Sinoussi a virologistat the Pasteur Institute isolates a retrovirus that kills T cells in the lymph system of AIDS patients. She went on to win a prestigious award for her work in discovering HIV.

This retrovirus would be called by several names before being named HIV in 1986.

‘Patient Zero’ dies

1984

Gaëtan Dugas also known as Patient Zero, dies. Although not the first patient with AIDS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention links him with 40 of the first 248 AIDS cases in the U.S.

Ryan White a teen from Kokomo, Ind. is diagnosed with HIV contracted from a blood product as part of his treatment for hemophilia. When his Indiana school learns of his disease, he is prevented from attending class.

The U.S. Health and Human Services Department announces that a vaccine will be available in two years.

First celebrity discloses AIDS infection

1985

At age 59, Hollywood leading man Rock Hudson becomes the first U.S. celebrity to disclose he is HIV-positive, three months before he dies of AIDS and about a year after he was diagnosed with it. Watch news coverage of his death.

AIDS discrimination case

1986

Geoffrey Bowers is fired from a law firm after AIDS-related lesions appear on his face. He sues the firm in one of the first AIDS discrimination cases. The story partially inspired the film “Philadelphia,” starring Tom Hanks.

That same year, President Ronald Reagan’s surgeon general, C. Everett Koop releases a report on AIDS without review by Reagan’s advisers. Watch him give testimony to Congress about AIDS.

‘Oprah’ hosts public meeting

1987

Williamson, W.Va., closes its public swimming pool after an incident involving a local resident with HIV. “The Oprah Winfrey Show” broadcasts a meeting during which residents express their fears about AIDS and homosexuality.

Ryan White dies

1990

Ryan White dies at age 18 from AIDS-related pneumonia. Congress passes the Ryan White Care Act after his death.  Watch a tribute video and clips from the TV movie based on his life.

Life magazine publishes a haunting image of David Kirby, a man suffering from AIDS  as he took his last breaths.

NBA star announces he’s HIV-positive

1991

Magic Johnson a 12-time NBA All-Star announces he is carrying the disease. He stops playing for the NBA. He has now lived with the condition for 20 years.

Freddie Mercury the lead singer of the band Queen dies at age 46, just 24 hours after announcing he has AIDS.

That same year, drug therapies for HIV are introduced, which are shown to be more effective than AZT and slow the development of some AIDS-related fatal diseases.

‘Psycho’ actor dies of AIDS

1992

Actor Anthony Perkins known for his role as Norman Bates in the Alfred Hitchcock horror classic “Psycho,” dies from AIDS.”

Popular science fiction writer Isaac Asimov dies from an AIDS-related condition. He was infected during heart surgery in 1983.

Tennis star dies

1993

Professional tennis champ Arthur Ashe dies at age 49 after acquiring HIV during heart surgery in 1983. He spent the last year of his life campaigning for AIDS awareness and compassion for victims.

Death rates begin to plummet

1996-1998

A new type of protease inhibitor drug becomes available to treat HIV.  Highly active antiretroviral therapy is used in 1996, and within two years, death rates due to AIDS plummet. By 1998, the drug therapy shows impressive results, with death rates dropping to about 5 percent per year for HIV patients, down from more than 20 percent per year.

Billions spent to fight AIDS

2003

President George W. Bush starts the PEPFAR relief plan with $5 billion. More than $25 billion has been spent so far, mostly in Africa to fight HIV, tuberculosis and malaria.

Bono launches Red campaign

2006

Singer Bono launches Product Red. Profits from the line are designated to help   fight the worldwide AIDS epidemic.

That same year, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates announces he will step down as head of the computer software giant to spend more time on the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation which is the largest private resource for fighting HIV/AIDS.

Rate of infection rises

2008

New HIV incidence estimates show the U.S. rate of infection is higher than previously forecast. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s study estimates about 55,000 new infections occurred in 2006, not the projected 40,000.

Prevention breakthrough

2010-2011

A breakthrough in HIV/AIDS prevention is announced. Research scientists at the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa, or CAPRISA  gel that reduces the risk of a woman becoming infected with HIV during intercourse by about 40 percent.

Just about a year after President Barack Obama’s National HIV/AIDS Strategy was released, the 2011 National HIV Prevention Conference will be held this summer.