III

107TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 340

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;
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HCON 340 RFS

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;
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HCON 340 RFS

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
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HCON 340 RFS

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That Congress supports the goals and ideals

3 of Meningitis Awareness Month.

Passed the House of Representatives June 17, 2002.

Attest: JEFF TRANDAHL,

Clerk.