Evidence suggests that the initial infections of the current epidemic began some time in the early or mid-1970's.

Symptoms typically reach their worst two to three days after the infection begins.

At the high school the infection begins to spread slowly.

The infection then begins to kill the students in the gym at an alarming rate.

The infection usually begins with one eye, but may spread easily to the other.

When serious infections began to be reported in large numbers, company executives hid the facts.

No one can say how many infections begin in prison.

British officials said the infections began among workers in the British field hospital here.

European medical experts have testified that the infections began before the nurses started working at the hospital.

But if they are given penicillin the first few hours after the infection begins, most survive.