The largest peak in requests for HIV

History

At the beginning of 1991 the CDC published a report confirming that, in addition to Kimberly Bergalis, two other patients had probably been infected by the same dentist.⁹³ Such was the public concern about this that America's leading medical and dental associations announced that HIV positive doctors and dentists should warn their patients about their infection status or give up surgery.⁹⁴ During the summer, in the midst of continuing public hysteria, the CDC also recommended that infected health care workers should be barred from certain procedures.^{95 96}

The largest peak in requests for HIV testing in the UK was observed in January 1991 when the character Mark Fowler, in the BBC television series EastEnders, was diagnosed HIV-positive.⁹⁷

In the autumn, in a dramatic move, Kimberly Bergalis testified to the US Congress. In what she called her "dying wish", she asked members of congress to enact legislation for mandatory HIV testing of health care workers, to ensure that:⁹⁸

"others don't have to go through the hell that I have."

But, overwhelmed by opposition from the medical profession, the CDC chose not to recommend mandatory testing, and dropped its plans to list procedures that should not be carried out by HIV positive health workers. Kimberly Bergalis died a few days later.^{99 100}

During the summer, a third antiretroviral drug dideoxycytidine (ddC) was authorised by the FDA for use by patients intolerant of AZT.¹⁰¹

Also during the summer, a study was published which showed that HIV was transmitted much more easily through breast milk than had previously been thought.¹⁰² But despite admitting that the news was discouraging, the WHO also said that women in developing countries should continue to breastfeed, as the threat to infant health from contaminated water was even greater than the threat from AIDS.¹⁰³

The decision was taken to hold the 1992 international AIDS conference in Amsterdam, rather than its planned location in Boston, following the American administration's decision not to lift entry restrictions on HIV-infected travellers.¹⁰⁴

A video of Magic Johnson announcing his retirement at a press conference on 7th November 1991

In the USA Earvin (Magic) Johnson announced that he had tested HIV positive and was therefore retiring from professional basketball, on the advice of his doctors. He said that he planned to use his celebrity status to help educate young people about the disease. He also said:

"I think sometimes we think, well, only gay people can get it - it is not going to happen to me. And here I am saying that it happen to anyone, even me Magic Johnson." - ¹⁰⁵

A couple of weeks later in the UK, Freddie Mercury, lead singer of the rock group Queen, confirmed that he had AIDS. Just one day later it was announced that he had died.¹⁰⁶

In France, haemophiliacs who became infected through infected blood products sued leading medical and government officials. They accused the blood transfusion centres of allowing the use of HIV-contaminated blood, even though tests to screen blood for HIV and techniques to destroy the virus in blood products were available.^{107 108}

A red ribbon badge worn to promote AIDS awareness.

The red ribbon became an international symbol of AIDS awareness during 1991. The organisation Visual AIDS in New York, together with Broadway Cares, and Equity Fights AIDS, established the wearing of a red ribbon as a way of signifying support for people living with HIV/AIDS.¹⁰⁹

As the end of 1991, about 450,000 AIDS cases had been reported to the Global Programme on AIDS (GPA) / World Health Organisation (WHO). It was estimated that 5-7 million men and 3-5 million women had been infected with HIV. Of these 9-11 million HIV-infected adults, nearly 1.5 million were estimated to have progressed to AIDS.