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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.C.R. NO. |
114 |
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THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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HOUSE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
REQUESTING THE university of hawaii at manoa JOHN A. BURNS SCHOOL OF MEDICINE to conduct a study that investigates THE PrevalEnce OF THE RS-12252-C variation of the IFITM3 gene AMONG hawaii RESIDENTS.
WHEREAS, in addition to factors such as nutrition, underlying disease, and immunity to past infection, a person's genetic predisposition can contribute to the severity of infection that person experiences; and
WHEREAS, research shows that mutations to the IFITM3 gene, such as the RS-12252-C variation, can lead to complications during the course of certain infections, such as various forms of influenza; and
WHEREAS, a study of the impacts of the 2009 H1N1 virus found that sixty-nine percent of patients of Chinese descent with severe H1N1 symptoms carried the RS-12252-C variation, while only twenty-five percent of patients of Chinese descent with mild symptoms carried the variation, suggesting that the RS-12252-C variation may increase the likelihood of developing more serious complications as a result of an H1N1 infection; and
WHEREAS, the RS-12252-C variant occurs in approximately twenty-five percent of persons of Chinese descent and forty-four percent of persons of Japanese descent, but in only eight percent of those of Northern European descent; and
WHEREAS, influenza and related pneumonia complications are the fourth leading cause of death in Hawaii, killing six hundred thirty-seven people in 2017 alone — the highest per capita death rate for influenza and related pneumonia complications in the United States; and
WHEREAS, despite the particular susceptibility of persons of Asian descent to carrying the RS-12252-C variation and the approximately thirty-eight percent of Hawaii residents who are of Asian descent, no studies have been conducted regarding the prevalence of the RS-12252-C variation of the IFITM3 gene among Hawaii residents; and
WHEREAS, this lack of scientific study leaves the Department of Health with no knowledge as to how this genetic variation could affect Hawaii in the event of a public health crisis; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2020, the Senate concurring, that the University of Hawaii at Manoa John A. Burns School of Medicine is requested to conduct a study that investigates the prevalence of the RS-12252-C variation of the IFITM3 gene among Hawaii residents; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the John A. Burns School of Medicine is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2021; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health is requested to incorporate the research findings from the John A. Burns School of Medicine regarding the RS-12252-C variation of the IFITM3 gene into its public health and pandemic planning; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Dean of the University of Hawaii at Manoa John A. Burns School of Medicine and Director of Health.
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OFFERED BY: |
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John A. Burns School of Medicine; Study; RS-12252-C Variation; IFITM3 Gene.