The first reports of homosexual patients suffering from previously rare diseases
such as pneumocystis pneumonia and Kaposis sarcoma were published in May
1981 (Centers for Disease Control 1981a, 1981b, 1981c). It soon became clear that
the new disease affected other population groups as well, when the first cases were
reported in injecting drug users. However, it took almost two years until, in 1983,
the human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1) was defined as the primary
cause of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (Barré-Sinoussi 1983, Broder
1984, Gallo 1984)
such as pneumocystis pneumonia and Kaposis sarcoma were published in May
1981 (Centers for Disease Control 1981a, 1981b, 1981c). It soon became clear that
the new disease affected other population groups as well, when the first cases were
reported in injecting drug users. However, it took almost two years until, in 1983,
the human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1) was defined as the primary
cause of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (Barré-Sinoussi 1983, Broder
1984, Gallo 1984)