Aids ribbon.

Date: 23 April, 1984

On this day in history, the groundbreaking discovery of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the virus that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), was announced in Washington by US Secretary of Health, Margaret Heckler.

Scientists applauded the discovery of the virus as a major breakthrough in research on the deadly disease that was sweeping through the United States and the rest of the world.

The date of the scientific discovery of the virus should not be confused with the public announcement of the discovery on this date.

Feature: A history of HIV/Aids in South Africa

References

• What are HIV and AIDS? [online], available at: aids.org.za [accessed 14 April 2009] 2. On this day, 23 April [online], available at: news.bbc.co.uk [accessed 14 April 2009]