AIDS epidemic
HIV health crisis
The AIDS epidemic refers to the widespread outbreak of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome that emerged in the early 1980s and killed millions worldwide.
The term often specifically evokes the devastating early years before effective treatments existed, particularly its toll on gay communities: He lost dozens of friends during the AIDS epidemic.
The crisis transformed public health policy, activism, and attitudes toward sexuality.
- HIVAIDS-causing retrovirus
- ACT UPHIV/AIDS direct-action organization
- retrovirusRNA virus copying into DNA
- stigmaMark of dishonor
- transmissionSending of information
epidemiology · quilt · funeral · discrimination · Ryan White · grief · test · blood supply · patient zero · AZT · pharmaceutical patents · condom distribution · loss · vigil · sexual health education · intersectionality · healthcare infrastructure · T-cells
- 20th CenturyWorld War I aftermath, Cuban Missile Crisis, atomic bomb, New Deal, Nazi Germany
- public healthdisease prevention, immunization, disease control, health education, epidemiology
- epidemicspandemic, outbreak, disease, Black Death, cholera
- health crisespandemic, outbreak, health emergency, public health emergency, disease spread
- HIV/AIDSHIV, antiretrovirals, HIV testing, viral load, HIV test
- LGBTQ historyStonewall riots, gay liberation, Harvey Milk, pride movement, gay rights movement
AIDS epidemicdisease eradication
Permanent global elimination of pathogens
smallpox eradication · herd immunity · cure · remission · disease control