HI HCR88

University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine is requested to conduct a study investigating the prevalence of the RS-12252-C variation of the IFITM3 gene among Hawaii's Asian and Pacific Islander residents and compare viral infection severity to other ethnicities

Study should analyze DNA of residents to determine the risk severity that carriers of the RS-12252-C variation will contract serious COVID-19 and dangerous influenza infections

Research findings must be submitted to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2022

Department of Health is requested to incorporate the research findings into its public health and pandemic planning efforts

The RS-12252-C variation occurs in approximately 25-44% of persons of Asian descent but only 8% of those of European or sub-Saharan African descent, with prior research linking the variation to severe H1N1 symptoms in 69% of cases versus 25% in mild cases