Researchers from the University of Oxford and University of Leuven revealed that HIV started in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Researchers looked at the genetic history of the HIV-1 group M pandemic, a phenomenon that spread the virus across the African continent.

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Their analysis showed the ancestors of HIV-1 group M came from Kinshasa around the 1920s.

Oliver Pybus, one of the researchers, said this is the first time a research team analyzed data about HIV using phylegeographic techniques, which can statistically estimate where a virus comes from.

He said this technique can help researches identify where and when the HIV pandemic originated.

Pybus explained different factors in Kinshansa created the perfect storm that caused the emergence of HIV.

Philippe Lemey, another researcher involved in the study, said they developed a statistical framework that helped in the reconstruction of the virus.

Researchers confirm the disease began in Kinshasa then spread through transport links such as the railways.

Nuno Faria, one of the researchers, said data they collected from colonial archives show one million people travel through Kinshasa on the railways by the end of the 1940s,

He said their genetic data tells that HIV spread very quickly in Congo, probably because of the huge numbers of people travelling the railways and waterways.

Pybus explained their research showed that by following the original animal to human transmission of the virus, there was only a small window to see how this virus spread and emerged.

Researchers believe the social factors present at the beginning of the HIV pandemic still need to be studied.