If we call Covid-19 the Chinese virus because the first cases appeared there, shouldn't we called HIV the American virus for the same reason?

@Lee124 It's generally accepted that the first verified case of HIV is from a blood sample taken in 1959 from a man living in what is now Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

No question that it came "Out of Africa"

But the preponderance of AIDS in SA is nothing to do with that. It's entirely related to the sexual culture that predominates, with males assumed to have many partners, most casual. In addition, the negligent HIV/AIDS policies of former South African President Thabo Mbeki caused a massive increase in aids transmission, and unconscionable loss of human life.

@ArthurP with this said, if you know your geography the Congo was a protectorate of France during that period. That is why the flight went from France to the Congo. Also, not Thabo Mbeki, but the illiterate Jacob Zuma and trust me, South Africans were in an uproar due to his misguided sense of judgement and knowledge. All he was good for was corruption and stealing billions. The main reason for our countries now junk status. Thabo was actually one of the best presidents spending the least money and achieving more in his short term than any other to date.

@Lee124 I fear your knowledge of RSA's HIV/AIDS policy is sadly mistaken. I agree that in many ways, Mbeki was the last really effective president, but not in connection with the spread of AIDS. South Africa’s heavy toll from HIV can be directly laid at the feet of Mbeki, who delayed launching an antiretroviral (ARV) drug program, charging that the drugs were toxic and an effort by the West to weaken his country. Mbeki withdrew government support from clinics that had started using AZT to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV. He also restricted the use of a pharmaceutical company’s donated supply of nevirapine, another drug that helps keep newborns from contracting HIV. It was, ironically, the thug Zuma who finally reversed the situation. On October 29, 2009, Zuma, who had been elected president the previous May, gave a speech which was seen as the final reversal of Mbeki's AIDS denialism. In the speech, Zuma acknowledged HIV/AIDS as one of South Africa's most serious problems, saying that "...all South Africans need to know their HIV status, and be informed of the treatment options available to them.

These are FACTS.

By the way, where are you suggesting AIDS originated? France? When all scientific evidence makes a direct trans-species transmission in the central African region.

@ArthurP Thank you for your responses. I'm not adverse to learning and grateful you made me go back and do some further research. My initial response regarding France was from my 76 year aunt and decided to air her views on the subject.

As for SA's handling of the virus and Zuma - administration and research started way before Zuma. He though, was the cause of many child rapes in SA when he publically stated that sleeping with a virgin can cure you of AIDS or taking a shower after will avoid contraction of the virus.

https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/history-official-government-hivaids-policy-south-africa

Here is a link of how the HIV pandemic was handled throughout government administration.