HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is adopted

1986

This image revealed the presence of both HTLV-1, and HIV.

• HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is adopted as name of the retrovirus that was first proposed as the cause of AIDS by Luc Montagnier of France, who named it LAV (lymphadenopathy associated virus) and Robert Gallo of the United States, who named it HTLV-III (human T-lymphotropic virus type III)
• January 14, "...one million Americans have already been infected with the virus and that this number will jump to at least 2 million or 3 million within 5 to 10 years..." - NIAID Director Anthony Fauci, New York Times.^[25]
• Attorney Geoffrey Bowers is fired from the firm of Baker & McKenzie after AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma lesions appeared on his face. The firm maintained that he was fired purely for his performance.^[26] He sued the firm, in one of the first AIDS discrimination cases to go to a public hearing. These events were inspiration for the film Philadelphia.^[27]
• Model Gia Carangi dies of AIDS related illness on November 18.
• First officially known cases in the U.S.S.R.^[28] and India.^[29]

1987

• AZT (zidovudine), the first antiretroviral drug, becomes available to treat HIV.^[1]
• Charles Ludlam dies of PCP pneumonia due to AIDS on May 28, 1987.
• Williamson, West Virginia closes its public swimming pool following an incident involving a local resident with HIV/AIDS. The Oprah Winfrey Show broadcasts a town hall meeting during which local residents express their fears about AIDS and homosexuality.

1988

• December 1, the first World AIDS Day
• In Argentina takes place the deaths of popular and legendary Rock singers Federico Moura( December 21),and Miguel Abuelo (March 26),both from AIDS complications and in Buenos Aires.

1989

• The television movie "The Ryan White Story" aired. It starred Judith Light as Jeanne, Lukas Haas as Ryan and Nikki Cox as sister Andrea. Ryan White had a small cameo appearance as Chad, a young patient with AIDS. Another AIDS-themed film, The Littlest Victims, debuted in 1989, biopicing James Oleske, the first U.S. pyhsician to discover AIDS in newborns during AIDS' early years, when many thought it was only homosexually-spread.