Good reason for Abstinence - 10/23/08
Students will get HIV tests
By Blythe Bernhard, David Hunn and Steve Giegerich
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
10/16/2008
Normandy � St. Louis County Health Department officials said Wednesday they will establish a testing center at Normandy High School after determining that "several" Normandy students may have been exposed to HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
A routine investigation into the source of the virus following a diagnosis last week led health officials to Normandy High.
On Monday, the district responded by sending Normandy's 1,300 students home with letters that advised parents of the risk.
RELATED LINK
bullet TALK: HIV testing in school should be a wake up call
County health officials said it is the first time in memory that a public health investigation led to a local high school.
"There is concern, but we really don't want to raise alarms here," said health department spokesman Craig LeFebvre. "This is not some major new outbreak or method of transmission, and there's no evidence to suggest it was deliberately being spread."
Not surprisingly, given the rumor mill that is high school, the announcement that the identities of the person or persons exposed to the virus would not be disclosed did little to stop speculation.
Since the letter was sent out Monday, "Everybody is looking at everyone saying, 'Is it you? Is it you?'" said parent Stephanie Harris. "Right now it's more of a scare than anything."
In remarks to approximately 60 parents and school officials attending an information session Wednesday night in the Normandy gymnasium, health department director Dolores J. Gunn cautioned that it is "still early in the investigation."
Joseph Mackofmore, a junior at Normandy, was one of several students who said he will be tested to determine if he is infected with the virus that causes AIDS.
"I know I don't have it, but I want to make sure, so I'll be tested," he said.
The health department will provide Mackofmore and his classmates with that opportunity by establishing a special testing site at the school later this month.
To guarantee discretion, Gunn said, the site will be staffed entirely by health officials.
Students can stop by for counseling, to obtain literature or test for HIV, she said.
Because every student will depart with literature, it will be impossible, she noted, for others to determine who has and has not been tested.
"Our job at the health department is to find as many people as possible who might have been exposed to HIV and get them tested as soon as possible," said Gunn.
LaCharles Harris, a 10th-grader, doesn't see many classmates balking at the opportunity.
The students he has spoken with, Harris said, believe taking the test is a "smart" decision.
He acknowledged that many Normandy students are sexually active.
"But most of them know to use condoms," said Harris.
From the fourth through the 12th grade, the Normandy school district offers the option of enrolling in "About Better Choices," a sex education class.
Even so, Gunn urged parents at Wednesday's information session to engage their children in honest discussions about at-risk behavior.
Parent Linda Harris said the district deserves credit for addressing the issue honestly and openly.
"It's good they targeted it," she said.
Normandy students fear, however, that transparency will come with a price.
"Every school has kids with HIV," said Mackofmore. "But now people are going to say, 'He goes to Normandy, he has AIDS.'"
Normandy Superintendent Stanton E. Lawrence said he was encouraged that, in the two days since word of a possible outbreak, classwork has continued as normally as possible given the circumstances.
About 5 percent of HIV cases in the St. Louis region are diagnosed as teenagers, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
In an area encompassing St. Louis city and St. Louis, St. Charles, Lincoln, Jefferson, Warren and Franklin counties, there were 11 new cases of HIV in the 13-18 age group in 2007.
By Blythe Bernhard, David Hunn and Steve Giegerich
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
10/16/2008
Normandy � St. Louis County Health Department officials said Wednesday they will establish a testing center at Normandy High School after determining that "several" Normandy students may have been exposed to HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
A routine investigation into the source of the virus following a diagnosis last week led health officials to Normandy High.
On Monday, the district responded by sending Normandy's 1,300 students home with letters that advised parents of the risk.
RELATED LINK
bullet TALK: HIV testing in school should be a wake up call
County health officials said it is the first time in memory that a public health investigation led to a local high school.
"There is concern, but we really don't want to raise alarms here," said health department spokesman Craig LeFebvre. "This is not some major new outbreak or method of transmission, and there's no evidence to suggest it was deliberately being spread."
Not surprisingly, given the rumor mill that is high school, the announcement that the identities of the person or persons exposed to the virus would not be disclosed did little to stop speculation.
Since the letter was sent out Monday, "Everybody is looking at everyone saying, 'Is it you? Is it you?'" said parent Stephanie Harris. "Right now it's more of a scare than anything."
In remarks to approximately 60 parents and school officials attending an information session Wednesday night in the Normandy gymnasium, health department director Dolores J. Gunn cautioned that it is "still early in the investigation."
Joseph Mackofmore, a junior at Normandy, was one of several students who said he will be tested to determine if he is infected with the virus that causes AIDS.
"I know I don't have it, but I want to make sure, so I'll be tested," he said.
The health department will provide Mackofmore and his classmates with that opportunity by establishing a special testing site at the school later this month.
To guarantee discretion, Gunn said, the site will be staffed entirely by health officials.
Students can stop by for counseling, to obtain literature or test for HIV, she said.
Because every student will depart with literature, it will be impossible, she noted, for others to determine who has and has not been tested.
"Our job at the health department is to find as many people as possible who might have been exposed to HIV and get them tested as soon as possible," said Gunn.
LaCharles Harris, a 10th-grader, doesn't see many classmates balking at the opportunity.
The students he has spoken with, Harris said, believe taking the test is a "smart" decision.
He acknowledged that many Normandy students are sexually active.
"But most of them know to use condoms," said Harris.
From the fourth through the 12th grade, the Normandy school district offers the option of enrolling in "About Better Choices," a sex education class.
Even so, Gunn urged parents at Wednesday's information session to engage their children in honest discussions about at-risk behavior.
Parent Linda Harris said the district deserves credit for addressing the issue honestly and openly.
"It's good they targeted it," she said.
Normandy students fear, however, that transparency will come with a price.
"Every school has kids with HIV," said Mackofmore. "But now people are going to say, 'He goes to Normandy, he has AIDS.'"
Normandy Superintendent Stanton E. Lawrence said he was encouraged that, in the two days since word of a possible outbreak, classwork has continued as normally as possible given the circumstances.
About 5 percent of HIV cases in the St. Louis region are diagnosed as teenagers, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
In an area encompassing St. Louis city and St. Louis, St. Charles, Lincoln, Jefferson, Warren and Franklin counties, there were 11 new cases of HIV in the 13-18 age group in 2007.
