Tags: 45 years ago today, the CDC published a report of five cases of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) among previously healthy young men in Los Angeles.
At the time, PCP was a rare lung infection usually seen in infants or people with weakened immune systems. The patients had no known cause for their immune deficiency, and two had already died by the time the report was issued. This article was the first official medical report of what would later be recognized as AIDS, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
On the anniversary of this report, we are reminded of the loved ones lost to HIV/AIDS in the years that followed. But also of the advancements that have been made in treatment and prevention.
At Face to Face, we know that kindness and connection are the first steps towards saving lives. For over 40 years, we have been connecting our Sonoma County community with the practical care and support needed to prevent HIV and live well with HIV positive diagnosis.