Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1997. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
The Associated Press; 50 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10020 - Thursday, October 30, 1997; 6:13 p.m. EST
Carolyn Thompson, Associated Press Writer
Authorities say hundreds of people may be at risk of HIV infection through direct or indirect contact with Nushawn Williams, who was known to hang around parks and sweet-talk young girls, sometimes offering drugs.
Health center hours were expanded throughout Chautauqua County, and students were allowed to leave school for the tests.
"It's life, man," said a 15-year-old named Tom, who shared a cigarette with a buddy after giving a vial of blood for testing. "It's scary."
Williams gave county health workers the names of 20 sex partners at the time of his own HIV test a year ago. He gave New York City officials dozens more names last week during an interview from jail, where he has been since July on a drug charge.
State Health Commissioner Barbara DeBuono promised tests from this western New York county would be given priority at the state lab, but any wait seemed far too long for nervous teens.
"They told me three weeks," a blond girl named Carrie said, rolling her eyes, "but I can call in two."
Carrie said it is hard to ask boys about their sexual past.
"You can't just come out and say `How many girls have you been with?"' she said. "They can tell you one, but it could be 10."
The teens held up strips of condoms and handfuls of pamphlets they'd gotten from the health workers. Many said they would abstain for sex, at least for a while.
"You don't want to take a chance. I just want to check myself out to make sure I'm safe," said Brian, 15.
More than 70 people had signed up for testing by noon. The department tested 120 people Tuesday, said Eric Anderson of AIDS Community Services. On an average day, only a few people are tested there.
Copyright 1997/The Associated Press. Reproduced with permission. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the Permissions Desk, The Associated Press, 50 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10020.
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Copyright © 1997 - Associated Press. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the AP Permissions Desk.
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