H.R. 95 Summary

• Request the University of Hawaii at Manoa John A. Burns School of Medicine to conduct a study investigating the prevalence of the RS-12252-C variation of the IFITM3 gene among Hawaii residents

• Submit findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the start of the 2021 Regular Session

• The RS-12252-C variation is associated with increased severity of influenza infections, occurring in approximately 25% of persons of Chinese descent and 44% of persons of Japanese descent, compared to only 8% of Northern European descent

• Direct the Department of Health to incorporate research findings on the RS-12252-C variation into public health and pandemic planning

• Hawaii has the highest per capita death rate for influenza and related pneumonia complications in the United States, with 637 deaths in 2017 alone, and 38% of Hawaii residents are of Asian descent