The HIV.gov Timeline reflects the history of the domestic HIV/AIDS epidemic from the first reported cases in 1981 to the present—where advances in HIV prevention, care, and treatment offer hope for a long, healthy life to people who are living with, or at risk for, HIV and AIDS.

Disclaimer and Acknowledgements

The information contained in this timeline has been drawn from numerous sources, including (but not limited to): ACT UP, the Albion Center (Australia—PDF, 613KB), AVERT (United Kingdom), TheBody.com, FRONTLINE, GMHC, the Kaiser Family Foundation , the New School’s United States of AIDS project, UNAIDS, and the University of California, San Francisco.

We have also relied on material provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including the National Prevention Information Network (NPIN), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

The timeline is presented for informational purposes only. HIV.gov does not endorse any organization or viewpoint represented in entries drawn from non-federal sources.

Where possible, specific dates have been provided and events have been listed in chronological order. Entries without specific dates occurred in the year in which they are listed, but the order of those entries may not reflect the actual chronology of events.

Every attempt has been made to ensure that the information contained in the timeline is accurate, but some inaccuracies may exist due to competing source materials. In cases where our information differs from other timelines (including HIV.gov’s earlier versions) we add or update information only with the backing of independent, reliable sources. Please send any corrections to contact@hiv.gov.