By Janek H.C.R. No. 156 75R9446 SMC-F 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.