THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY PYLE, BAKER, BEAR, BRENNAN, V. BROWN, CAUSER, DiGIROLAMO, ELLIS, EVERETT, FABRIZIO, FREEMAN, GABLER, GEORGE, GINGRICH, GROVE, HARKINS, HEFFLEY, HENNESSEY, HESS, HICKERNELL, KAVULICH, M. K. KELLER, KILLION, KNOWLES, KORTZ, LONGIETTI, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MARSICO, MICOZZIE, MILLARD, MIRABITO, MOUL, MURT, MUSTIO, PASHINSKI, QUINN, READSHAW, ROCK, SABATINA, SAINATO, SCAVELLO, M. SMITH, SONNEY, STABACK, SWANGER, TOOHIL, VEREB AND YOUNGBLOOD, JUNE 11, 2012

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, JUNE 11, 2012  

A RESOLUTION

Designating the month of June 2012 as "Congenital

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, Cytomegalovirus, or CMV, is a common virus that is

found universally throughout all geographic locations and

socioeconomic groups and has infected between 50% and 85% of

adults in the United States who have reached 40 years of age;

and

WHEREAS, Most healthy adults and children who are infected

with CMV will have few, if any, signs or symptoms; and

WHEREAS, CMV is the virus most frequently transmitted to a

developing child before birth; and

WHEREAS, Each year in the United States, approximately 30,000

children are born with congenital CMV, causing an estimated 400

deaths and leaving approximately 8,000 children with permanent

disabilities such as hearing or vision loss or mental

retardation; and

WHEREAS, More children are adversely affected by congenital

CMV than by several better-known childhood diseases or syndromes

such as Down syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome and spina bifida;

and

WHEREAS, In the United States, about 50% to 60% of women are

at risk for contracting CMV infection during pregnancy, and an

infected woman is at high risk of passing the virus to her

developing child, causing potential birth defects; and

WHEREAS, In a recent survey of women in the United States,

only 14% had heard of CMV, compared with 97% who had heard of

Down syndrome and 98% who had heard of HIV/AIDS; and

WHEREAS, To prevent CMV, women should practice frequent hand

washing with soap and water after contact with diapers or oral

secretions of babies and small children; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the

month of June 2012 as "Congenital Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania, and encourage all citizens to

work within their communities to increase awareness of the risks

of CMV and how to take steps to prevent the spread of this

disease, especially among pregnant women.