When was the first case of HIV detection

Appeared in: NHM UP Staff Nurse-2023 Shift-2nd

Explanation

The year 1986 marks the first officially documented case of HIV infection in India, specifically in Chennai.
This detection was a result of the sero-surveillance initiated by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) a year prior.
The discovery prompted the Indian government to establish the National AIDS Committee and subsequently the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) in 1987 to manage the growing public health challenge.

Option A: While a significant year, 1985 was when India began sero-surveillance for HIV among high-risk populations, but the first case had not yet been identified.
Option C: 1987 was the year India launched the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) as a response to the detection of HIV in the country.
Option D: In 1984, the virus causing AIDS was independently isolated by Robert Gallo in the USA. This is a global milestone in virology, not the date of the first case detection in India.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain History of HIV/AIDS in India as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding the history of the HIV epidemic in India helps nurses appreciate the evolution of public health policies, from initial surveillance to the comprehensive 'Test and Treat' strategy under the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO).
Knowledge of these milestones is crucial for patient education, counseling, and combating stigma associated with HIV/AIDS.
What if the question asked about the first isolation of the virus globally? The answer would not be in the options, but the key years would be 1983 (Luc Montagnier) and 1984 (Robert Gallo).

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question, which is a factual recall about a specific date: 'first case of HIV detection'.
Recognize that for nursing exams in India, questions are often framed within the Indian context unless specified otherwise. Therefore, interpret 'first case' as the 'first case in India'.
Recall the timeline of major public health events in India. The detection of the first HIV case is a landmark event.
Evaluate the options: 1986 is the correct year for the first HIV case detection in India. The other years (1984, 1985, 1987) are also significant but relate to different milestones like virus isolation, start of surveillance, or launch of control programs.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Textbook of Biochemistry for medical StudentsDM Vasudevan Part 2 — Subpart B (pp 240-463 of 478) p. 171-173

E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart C (pp 404-604 of 604) p. 112-114

Practise the full NHM UP Staff Nurse-2023 Shift-2nd

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.