HIV feared spreading at St. Louis school

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- St. Louis health officials say they plan to open a clinic at a high school where as many as 50 students are considered to be threatened by the HIV virus.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch said Wednesday that the St. Louis County Department of Health plans to offer free tests to Normandy High School's 1,300 students.

The newspaper said health officials had said last week that "some" Normandy students may have been exposed to the virus and this week narrowed that estimate to 50.

"It could well be substantially below that," said department spokesman Craig LeFebvre. "Just because you're exposed doesn't mean you contracted the disease."

The reasons for the increased threats are unclear; however, health officials said the diagnosis of one HIV case caused them to look at a larger number of students.

LeFebvre said sexual contact could spread the virus, as could the sharing of contaminated needles for drug use and tattooing.