06/05/2026
45 years ago today, the first cases of HIV were documented in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. In the period of October 1980-May 1981, 5 young men, all active homosexuals, were treated for biopsy-confirmed Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia at 3 different hospitals in Los Angeles, California. Two of the patients died. All 5 patients had laboratory-confirmed previous or current cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and candidal mucosal infection, documenting for the first time what became known as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
The AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland has been here for 42 years this year. We are still here, and will remain as long as we're needed. We will continue to fight.
