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First Report of AIDS
Twenty years ago, on June 5, 1981, MMWR published a report of five cases
of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) among previously healthy young men in
Los Angeles (1). All of the men were described as "homosexuals"; two had died.
Local clinicians and the Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Officer stationed at the
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, prepared the report and submitted it
for MMWR publication in early May 1981. Before publication,
MMWR editorial staff sent the submission to CDC experts in parasitic and sexually transmitted diseases.
The editorial note that accompanied the published report stated that the case
histories suggested a "cellular-immune dysfunction related to a common exposure" and
a "disease acquired through sexual contact." The report prompted additional
case reports from New York City, San Francisco, and other cities. At about the same
time, CDC's investigation drug unit, the sole distributor of pentamidine, the therapy for
PCP, began to receive requests for the drug from physicians also to treat young men.
In June 1981, CDC developed an investigative team to identify risk factors and
to develop a case definition for national surveillance. Within 18 months,
epidemiologists conducted studies and prepared
MMWR reports that identified all of the major
risks factors for acquired immnodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). In March 1983, CDC
issued recommendations for prevention of sexual, drug-related, and
occupational transmission based on these early epidemiologic studies and before the cause of
the new, unexplained illness was known.
MMWR has published more than 400 reports about human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and AIDS and remains a primary source of information about
the epidemiology, surveillance, prevention, care, and treatment of HIV and AIDS.
This anniversary issue provides new reports on the epidemiologic features and impact
of HIV/AIDS on communities in the United States and in other countries. A compilation
of notable MMWR reports on HIV and AIDS is available at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/hiv_aids20.html. A video that includes interviews with participants in these first
AIDS investigations and reports and a video summary of each report in this issue
is available at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr.
Reference
CDC. Pneumocystis pneumonia --- Los Angeles. MMWR 1981;30:250--2.
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