H.R. 192 Summary

• Request that the Department of Health hire a State Veterinary Medical Officer to prevent spread of rat lungworm disease and other zoonotic diseases in Hawaii's human population.

• Establish the position to support statewide efforts in protecting and improving public health, similar to positions held in most state health departments across the nation.

• The State Veterinary Medical Officer would revive and disseminate public health publications in electronic form and couple them with continuing medical education for physicians, nurses, and veterinarians.

• Address the current outbreak of rat lungworm disease affecting humans, dogs, cats, and horses in the state by leveraging veterinary expertise in zoonotic disease prevention and control.

• Direct transmission of certified copies of the resolution to the Director of Health.