Normandy School District: Some Students May Have Been Exposed to HIV

KSDK -- Parents of Normandy High School students gathered Wednesday night to get answers from county health officials about a student who may have exposed others to HIV. The exposure was first discovered by the St. Louis County Department of Health on October 7, and the school community learned of it on Monday.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention HIV Section Parents were told the case was unique, because it's centered at Normandy High, and health officials were learning more about the exposure, and trying to see if more students were involved.

The health director, Dr. Dolores Gunn, would not go into detail about the type of exposure, but said that most such exposure in the region comes from sexual contact, not the use of dirty hypodermic needles.
"Often times we get information we have a case positive and once we get that information about a case positive, what we do as a health department is we look for sources and contacts and during the course of that investigation, it led us to Normandy Senior High School," Gunn said.

At the school, Dr. Gunn fielded questions about HIV, and how patients are tested. It's a simple swab from inside the mouth, and the results would be confidential. Gunn said the county would offer free, onsite testing starting at the end of this month.

However, some parents, including Josie Fondren, whose son was a senior, wondered why wait so long. She said if there's HIV, the testing should start right away.

Dr. Stanton Lawrence, the superintendent of schools, where 1,000 students attend the high school, said the health department should be credited for it's handling of the case, and added health officials were going the extra mile in tracking cases.
The Normandy School District sent home a letter to parents. According to the letter from Carl B. Hudson Stanton E. Lawrence, Ed.D. the High School Principal Superintendent of Schools, "...the Department of Health learned of evidence that suggests HIV may have been transmitted among some Normandy Senior High School students."

Free and confidential HIV testing will be made available on campus to students later this month and in January.
The St. Louis County Department of Health will provide information to parents and guardians about HIV testing. The first meeting will be October 15th at 6 p.m. at Normandy Senior High School in Viking Hall at 6701 Saint Charles Rock Road, in St. Louis. The second one will be held at 6 p.m. on October 20, 2008 at the school in Viking Hall.
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Copy of Letter Sent to Parents and Guardians:
October 13, 2008

Dear Normandy High School Parents and Guardians:

The St. Louis County Department of Health routinely investigates communicable disease case reports so that they can identify exposed persons who could benefit from medical intervention. These cases include Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS. During a recent such investigation, the Department of Health learned of evidence that suggests HIV may have been transmitted among some Normandy Senior High School students.

The Department of Health informs us that:

HIV is spread primarily through sexual contact with an infected individual. HIV can also be spread by sharing needles with an infected person. Please see the enclosed fact sheet for more information about HIV.

The early identification of persons with HIV drastically improves outcomes. Recent advances in early treatment make it possible to effectively manage HIV so that many infected persons can lead healthy, long, productive lives.

Free and confidential HIV testing should be made available to our students.

We will be holding two meetings with the Department of Health to provide information to parents and guardians about HIV testing. The first meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on October 15, 2008, and the second one will be held at 6 p.m. on October 20, 2008. These meetings will be held at Normandy Senior High School in Viking Hall.

The Normandy School District has made arrangements with the Department of Health to provide our senior high school students with information about HIV. We urge you to openly and honestly discuss your child's HIV risks with them. If it appears that your child might be at risk, then we urge you to encourage them to get tested either at the high school or at your own physician's office.

Many of you will have questions about HIV and HIV testing. The Department of Health has set up a phone line to answer questions at 314-615-4246. We would also ask that you visit the Normandy School District website for additional information on HIV and related topics. Your patience, cooperation and support in this matter is appreciated.

Sincerely,

Carl B. Hudson Stanton E. Lawrence, Ed.D.
High School Principal Superintendent of Schools
c: Normandy School District Board of Education