Actually, AEI is correct. Diagnoses of AIDS first happened in CA and NY. It wasn't immediately called "aids"; BUT world doctors responded with data, identifying Africa with victims having similar "symptoms" as those in California and Nevada. Soonafter, began speculation about "how it came from Africa to the US". Minor voices as to who from CA had been to Africa over the past 5 years.. But ultimately, it became a shouting match over funds as to "who (which country) had AIDS first".
If I recall correctly, didn't they determine that the original case was a male airline steward traversing that route, and being very promiscuous all along the way. Estimated that he gave it to somewhere around 200 other men.
And then off it goes.