HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-1           WHEREAS, Hepatitis A is a highly contagious virus that

 1-2     infects thousands of Texans each year, resulting in extreme

 1-3     fatigue, jaundice, abdominal pain, liver damage, and sometimes

 1-4     death; and

 1-5           WHEREAS, The economic impact for persons contracting

 1-6     hepatitis A is significant, with the annual direct and indirect

 1-7     costs of treating cases and controlling outbreaks of hepatitis A in

 1-8     the United States estimated to be $200 million; the average loss in

 1-9     productivity for an adult with hepatitis A is 27 workdays and

1-10     approximately $2,600 in lost wages; and

1-11           WHEREAS, Infections from hepatitis A are transmitted through

1-12     close contact with infected persons, including infants and

1-13     children; because they do not always show symptoms of the virus,

1-14     children are a particularly problematic source of the disease,

1-15     infecting nonimmune children and adults at home, in schools, and in

1-16     day-care centers; and

1-17           WHEREAS, While there is no treatment for the disease, methods

1-18     of preventing hepatitis A through immunization programs have proven

1-19     very successful; the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices

1-20     of the Centers for Disease Control recommends hepatitis A

1-21     vaccination programs in populations with persistent high rates of

1-22     the disease; now, therefore, be it

1-23           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

1-24     hereby direct the Texas Department of Health to develop a

 2-1     comprehensive plan to control the spread of hepatitis A; and, be it

 2-2     further

 2-3           RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official

 2-4     copy of this resolution to the commissioner of public health of the

 2-5     Texas Department of Health.

                                                                       Janek

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.C.R. No. 156 was adopted by the House on May

         2, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

               I certify that H.C.R. No. 156 was adopted by the Senate on

         May 26, 1997, by a viva-voce vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

         APPROVED:  _____________________

                            Date

                    _____________________

                          Governor