By A. Terry
Human immunodeficiency virus, better known as HIV, is a virus that attacks one’s immune system by weakening cells’ ability to fight disease and infection.
The disease’s origins are somewhat mysterious and studies of it began in the 20th century. In the early 1950s, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, scientists discovered what looked like remnants of the simian virus in chimpanzee feces; this virus was found in both humans and animals and was known to cause various infections throughout the body. This virus is now known to be a parent virus of HIV. The infected chimps were located close to the Sangha River, a tributary to Congo. It is believed that the disease crossed over to humans from blood to blood contact through activities such as hunting. As trading increased in the Sangha region, contracts between European companies and the African government developed, giving these companies the right to openly trade in certain African cities (McDow).
European colonialism built an infrastructure that helped link regions in Africa that had been relatively isolated. This included the transportation of both people and goods through steamboats into developing African cities; European imperialism began the process of globalization in Africa. Colonialism contributed to both movement and urbanization. African cities, such as Leopoldville and Brazzaville, grew considerably in the 1940s and 1950s. These places attracted people from throughout equatorial Africa and were known for their lively music, creative energy and variety of clubs. Recreational venues brought people together and increased opportunties for sexual activity; these cities became major sites for the spread of disease, including HIV. In 1959, a doctor decided to take a blood sample of one of the patients in Leopoldville. This blood sample helped scientists trace the origins of HIV back to the European Colonization in Africa (McDow).
Congolese independence came in 1960 and was followed by a period of political and social upheaval. UNESCO aided the region by bringing professionals, such as doctors and teachers, into the region to help build important industries. Many of these recruits came from Belgium and Haiti. Some of these Haitians became infected with HIV and brought it back to their country, possibly introducing the virus on the other side of the Atlantic (McDow). The virus likely came to America when these Haitians migrated to the United States, when seeking political asylum (Lerner).
Starting in June 1981, cases of what was thought to be pneumonia were popping up all around Los Angeles. The first public health report on this topic observed a pattern of the mysterious disease affecting mainly gay men. After noticing that these people diagnosed with “pneumonia” were incapable of fighting infections that are normally not life-threatening, doctors concluded that it was something new. Symptoms included diarrhea, vision problems, and dementia (McDow).
The stigma against homosexuals at the time discouraged people from seeing doctors, and some hospitals refused homosexual patients’ treatment. The disease soon became known as “GRID,” or Gay-Related Immune Deficiency. African doctors rejected the idea that the infection was due to sexuality when they communicated that their heterosexual patients have the same disease with the same symptoms. By Sept. 1982, the disease had come to be known as Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and the virus was called Human immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (McDow).
The very first test for HIV was not available until 1985. Although there is no set cure for the disease, many health organizations around the world have helped support families with AIDS patients such as, The African Aids Support Organization (TASO). Today there are many drug therapies to help with the specific symptoms of the virus, but there is still no set cure. Even though people still die from HIV and AIDS today, huge investments have been made in drugs and health care to limit new infections (McDow).
