- By Aditi Priya Singh
- Mon, 01 Dec 2025 03:39 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
HIV/AIDS History and Origin: HIV/AIDS is one of the few major global health issues that is also the cause of millions of deaths worldwide. Numerous people in many countries fight this illness every year, but despite significant advancements in medicine, there are still many unanswered questions regarding its causes. Some people want to know where the virus first appeared, how it spread, or what previous research revealed. Understanding its origins helps us understand how bacteria evolve, move from wildlife to humans, and why early detection is crucial.
HIV/AIDS first gained international attention in the early 1980s; however, its actual history dates back much earlier. As it turned out, researchers discovered that the virus had been spreading among people without anyone's knowledge for a very long time. Lab work, global tracking and a great deal of detective work over time were all necessary to piece it together.
This article describes how the virus first appeared, where the first case was discovered, and why understanding this history is crucial for current awareness and prevention.
Where Was the First HIV/AIDS Case Found?
The first recorded HIV case shows up in a Bantu guy who passed away in what’s now the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Back then, doctors did not understand the illness and the virus. Later, his blood sample, labelled LEO70, collected during research on malaria and G6PD deficiency, eventually came back positive for HIV after several different tests.
However, the first officially reported case of HIV/AIDs was in 1981 in the United States. In June 1981, doctors in LA spotted rare pneumonia spreading among young gay men - this odd outbreak got flagged by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Soon after, it turned out to be something totally new: AIDS. That moment marked what we now call the first confirmed sign of HIV/AIDS showing up.
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How and From Where Did HIV Enter Humans?
Scientists believe that the Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV), which is present in chimpanzees, is the source of HIV. Humans most likely contracted the virus through:
* Biting or cutting an animal while handling bushmeat
* Hunting or handling infected chimpanzees
* Direct contact with contaminated blood
Zoonotic transmission is the term used to describe this transfer from animals to people.
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How HIV Spread Across the World?
After HIV entered humans, it spread gradually through mother-to-child transmission, unprotected sexual contact, using contaminated needles, and receiving blood transfusions before screening. By the 1980s, the illness had spread throughout several nations, most notably the United States, where medical professionals initially recognised it as a novel, unidentified disease.