The Discovery of the First Known Case of HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS is one of the most significant health crises of the 20th and 21st centuries. Its origins and the first known cases have been subjects of extensive research and debate. Understanding the history of HIV is crucial for the development of prevention strategies and treatment options. This article delves into the discovery of the first known case of HIV/AIDS and the scientific journey that led to its identification.

The Origin and Spread of HIV

HIV, or Human Immunodeficiency Virus, is believed to have originated in chimpanzees in Central Africa. The virus jumped from primates to humans around the early 20th century, likely in the 1920s or 1930s, through frequent contact between humans and infected chimpanzees, particularly through the consumption of bush meat. However, the virus was not identified until the 1980s when it caused an outbreak of unusual illnesses among gay men in the United States.

The first known case of what is now recognized as HIV/AIDS emerged in North Africa in the 1950s. A sailor, suspected to have contracted the virus from a prostitute, passed away in 1959. Tissue samples were preserved from this individual, and it was only in the early 1980s that a tissue test confirmed the presence of HIV/AIDS.

Preserved Pathology Specimens in Africa

The history of HIV/AIDS has been further illuminated through the analysis of preserved pathology specimens. In 1998, researchers found that serum samples from Africa dating back to the 1950s and 1960s were positive for HIV-1. Specifically, a serum sample (ZR59) from a Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) adult male in 1959, and a lymph node sample from a DRC adult female in 1960, were both found to be positive for HIV-1.

These findings indicate that HIV-1 was present in Léopoldville (now Kinshasa) by 1959–1960. However, the samples differ by about 12 years, suggesting that the primary infection may have occurred much earlier. Based on mathematical models and genetic analysis, it is estimated that in 1921, the number of individuals infected with the primate virus SIVcpz (Simian Immunodeficiency Virus of chimpanzees) was less than ten, but likely only one case spread and multiplied to become HIV.

The First Patient of the AIDS Epidemic

The first reported case of HIV/AIDS that is now recognized in the United States dates back to 1980 and involves Ken Horne, a resident of San Francisco and a presumed gay male sex worker. On April 24, 1980, he was reported to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) with Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). The CDC would later identify him as the first patient of the AIDS epidemic in the US.

These discoveries have provided critical insights into the timeline and spread of HIV-1. The preserved pathology specimens and genetic analysis not only validate the origins of HIV but also underscore the importance of surveillance and research in identifying and understanding emerging infectious diseases.