On June 5, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publishes a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), describing cases of a rare lung infection, Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), in five young, previously healthy gay men in Los Angeles. All the men had other unusual infections as well, indicating that their immune systems were not working; two had already died by the time the report was published. This edition of the MMWR marks the first official reporting of what will become known as the AIDS epidemic

In January, the first U.S AIDS clinic is established in San Francisco.

By the end of the year, more than 41,000 people had died of AIDS in the U.S.

The Visual AIDS Artists Caucus launches the Red Ribbon Project to create a visual symbol to demonstrate compassion for people living with AIDS and their caregivers. The red ribbon becomes the international symbol of AIDS awareness.

AIDS becomes the leading cause of death for all Americans ages 25 to 44.

The World Health Organization (WHO) announces that HIV/AIDS has become the fourth biggest killer worldwide and the number one killer in Africa. WHO estimates that 33 million people are living with HIV, and that 14 million have died of AIDS.

On April 30, President Clinton declares that HIV/AIDS is a threat to U.S. national security.

Newly elected President Barack Obama calls for the development of the first National HIV/AIDS Strategy for the United States.

The FDA approves the use of Truvada® for pre-exposure HIV prophylaxis (PrEP) in July.

The United Nations AIDS Program (UNAIDS) reports that 17 million people were receiving HIV treatment as of December 2015, doubling the number of people in treatment compared with 2010.