In the 1980s, society grappled with the grim reality of the AIDS epidemic, but it was the subsequent emergence of 'AIPS' —AIDS Induced Panic Syndrome— that reshaped the public narrative. While AIDS was a tangible threat, the hysteria of AIPS often overshadowed the actual disease, leading to an array of absurd stories that could easily be deemed laughable, such as the belief you could catch AIDS through sharing a swimming pool.

Conversely, the darker side of AIPS manifested in horrifying incidents where innocent individuals, often misidentified as carriers of the virus, faced brutal physical and verbal abuse, reinforcing the devastating impact of ignorance and fear. This duality of response—ranging from the ludicrous to the tragic—illustrates the potent mix of anxiety and misinformation that characterised the era, making it a pivotal moment in the history of public health.

All articles and relevant documents from this episode are available on the:

XTRA Tea Blog AIDS: THE LOST VOICES - AIDS v AIPS

----------------------------------------------------

Music / Instrumental by Aries Beats 'A Sin' + WEBSITE

----------------------------------------------------

Third-party media: Used under 'fair use' for the sole purpose of education, criticism and/or research relating to HIV/AIDS, featured in this podcast. No copyright infringement intended -

• British Newspaper Archives / Newspapers