Mo. school unsure of possible HIV outbreak

updated 4:31 p.m. ET Dec. 4, 2008

ST. LOUIS - Six weeks after someone with HIV said dozens of students at a St. Louis high school might have been exposed to the virus, it remains unclear whether an outbreak has occurred.

Missouri health authorities say preliminary October test results for St. Louis County show two new cases of HIV among people 24 and under.

It isn’t clear whether those cases are even connected to Normandy High School, where students were tested voluntarily in late October. An infected person told county health officials that as many as 50 teens might have been exposed to the virus that causes AIDS.

The county plans a second round of HIV testing in January. Antibodies to the virus can take three to six months to appear. A final assessment isn’t expected for at least six months.

MORE FROM AIDS

AIDS Section Front

HIV travel ban may be lifted for infected visitors   Study: Circumcision doesn't cut HIV in women   HIV-positive man denied hair transplant From Haiti, a surprise: good news about AIDS HIV infection rates are highest in the South Calif.: Not so many HIV cases in porn industry? Injected with HIV by dad as baby, teen inspires Engineered antibodies may fight AIDS virus Africa must manufacture own AIDS drugs: U.N. Fauci: Why there is no AIDS vaccine AIDS Section Front   Add AIDS headlines to your news reader: