40 years of AIDS: The History of a Disease

Forty years ago, in the spring of 1981, a new disease was first reported by the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Two parallel syndromes were noticed among those affected: the so-called "Kaposi sarcoma" and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Initially, it mainly affected men who had sex with men. The disease was initially called "Gay Related Immunodeficiency", but was renamed "Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome" (AIDS) when it became socially relevant. From 1983 onwards, the mysterious epidemic could be traced back to the HIV virus discovered by Montagnier and Gallo. The author interviewed two well-known dermatologists (from East and West Berlin) about the different situation in the FRG and GDR and the public perception of AIDS in the 1980s. In the public media perception, the disease has remained a marginalised group disease until today. Today, after 40 years, AIDS has become treatable. However, not all stigma has been removed and restrictions can still be found, for example, in the regulations on blood donation.