World Aids Vaccine Day

US President Bill Clinton gave a speech on May 18, 1997, at Morgan State University in Maryland, known as the World AIDS Vaccine Days. He said, “only an effective, preventive HIV vaccine can diminish the threat of AIDS.”

People commemorated the first anniversary of Clinton’s speech on May 18, the following year. Since then, the annual custom has spread around the world.

Symptoms of HIV

HIV symptoms differ according to the stage of infection. However, people living with HIV are most infectious in the first few months. Following illness, many do not realize they are infected until later. For example, people may have no symptoms or an influenza-like sickness in the first few weeks, such as fever, headache, rash, or sore throat.