1-1     By:  Janek (Senate Sponsor - West)                   H.C.R. No. 156

 1-2           (In the Senate - Received from the House May 5, 1997;

 1-3     May 6, 1997, read first time and referred to Committee on Health

 1-4     and Human Services; May 18, 1997, reported favorably by the

 1-5     following vote:  Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 18, 1997, sent to printer.)

 1-6                         HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-7           WHEREAS, Hepatitis A is a highly contagious virus that

 1-8     infects thousands of Texans each year, resulting in extreme

 1-9     fatigue, jaundice, abdominal pain, liver damage, and sometimes

1-10     death; and

1-11           WHEREAS, The economic impact for persons contracting

1-12     hepatitis A is significant, with the annual direct and indirect

1-13     costs of treating cases and controlling outbreaks of hepatitis A in

1-14     the United States estimated to be $200 million; the average loss in

1-15     productivity for an adult with hepatitis A is 27 workdays and

1-16     approximately $2,600 in lost wages; and

1-17           WHEREAS, Infections from hepatitis A are transmitted through

1-18     close contact with infected persons, including infants and

1-19     children; because they do not always show symptoms of the virus,

1-20     children are a particularly problematic source of the disease,

1-21     infecting nonimmune children and adults at home, in schools, and in

1-22     day-care centers; and

1-23           WHEREAS, While there is no treatment for the disease, methods

1-24     of preventing hepatitis A through immunization programs have proven

1-25     very successful; the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices

1-26     of the Centers for Disease Control recommends hepatitis A

1-27     vaccination programs in populations with persistent high rates of

1-28     the disease; now, therefore, be it

1-29           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

1-30     hereby direct the Texas Department of Health to develop a

1-31     comprehensive plan to control the spread of hepatitis A; and, be it

1-32     further

1-33           RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official

1-34     copy of this resolution to the commissioner of public health of the

1-35     Texas Department of Health.

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