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 bac-
terial meningitis;
Whereas bacterial meningitis caused by the meningococcus,
Neisseria meningitidis, is one of the most deadly and
least understood infections in the United States;
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 in-
clude high fever, headache, stiff neck, confusion, lethargy,
vomiting, and seizures, and meningococcemia, an infec-
tion 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 dis-
ease 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 in-
fected 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;
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 pro-
vides 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 effec-
tive vaccines against meningococcal disease: Now, there-
fore, be it
HCON 340 RFS
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.