[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 340 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 340


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 18, 2002

Received and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
                                Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
     Supporting the goals and ideals of Meningitis Awareness Month.

Whereas meningitis is usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection;
Whereas viral meningitis is generally less severe than bacterial meningitis;
Whereas bacterial meningitis caused by the meningococcus, Neisseria 
        meningitidis, is one of the most deadly and least understood infections 
        in the United States;
Whereas in 2000 more than 2,900 people in the United States developed 
        meningococcal disease;
Whereas the 2 most common types of meningococcal disease are meningitis, an 
        infection of the fluid that surrounds the spinal cord and the brain, the 
        symptoms of which include high fever, headache, stiff neck, confusion, 
        lethargy, vomiting, and seizures, and meningococcemia, an infection of 
        the blood stream, the symptoms of which include a red-brown rash or 
        purple blotches;
Whereas although meningococcal disease can be treated with a number of effective 
        antibiotics, such treatment must begin early in the course of the 
        disease, because the disease can be fatal within hours after the first 
        symptoms appear;
Whereas individuals who survive meningococcal meningitis can suffer from 
        debilitating effects such as hearing and vision loss, learning 
        difficulties or mental retardation, loss of arms and legs, and 
        paralysis;
Whereas between 20 percent and 25 percent of all people carry the bacterium that 
        causes meningococcal disease in the back of their noses and throats 
        without developing the disease, but can pass the bacterium to others;
Whereas the bacterium that causes meningococcal disease can be passed by close 
        contact that involves the exchange of respiratory or throat secretions 
        with someone who is infected or is carrying the bacterium, including 
        coughing, kissing, and sharing items such as cigarettes, lipsticks, 
        foods, drinks, toothbrushes, and mouth guards;
Whereas meningococcal disease cannot be spread merely by being in the same room 
        with an infected person or by breathing the air where an infected person 
        has been;
Whereas meningococcal disease usually develops within 1 to 14 days after 
        exposure;
Whereas although the occurrence of meningococcal disease was once highest among 
        children between the ages of 6 months and 36 months, the occurrence of 
        the disease among older children and adolescents has been increasing in 
        recent years, with a number of outbreaks occurring at schools and 
        universities;
Whereas although a vaccine is currently available which provides protection 
        against 4 of the 5 common strains of meningococcal disease in the United 
        States, vaccinations are rarely administered until after an outbreak 
        occurs;
Whereas the medical community should be encouraged to make a routine practice of 
        informing adolescent patients and their parents about the option of 
        being vaccinated against this debilitating and often deadly disease; and
Whereas the Meningitis Awareness Key to prevention (MAK) organization has 
        requested that Congress designate April as Meningitis Awareness Month in 
        order to raise public awareness about meningitis and the availability of 
        effective vaccines against meningococcal disease: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress supports the goals and ideals of Meningitis Awareness 
Month.

            Passed the House of Representatives June 17, 2002.

            Attest:

                                                 JEFF TRANDAHL,

                                                                 Clerk.