1981–presentReputable sourceWell documented
HIV/AIDS
On the timeline · around 1981–present · The Modern Age
What happened
In 1981 U.S. doctors reported clusters of rare infections in previously healthy young men — the first recognized cases of what became known as AIDS, caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The virus spread into a global pandemic that has infected more than 80 million people and killed tens of millions.
Why it matters
HIV/AIDS reshaped medicine, activism, and society. Once a near-certain death sentence, it became — through antiretroviral drugs — a manageable chronic condition, one of modern medicine's hardest-won victories, though it remains a global challenge.