HR 526

                                                PRINTER'S NO.   3411
              THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
      HOUSE RESOLUTION
         No. 526
                                         Session of
                                           2026
INTRODUCED BY BELLMON, HOHENSTEIN, GIRAL, McNEILL, HILL-EVANS,
   VENKAT, KHAN, WAXMAN, SANCHEZ, NEILSON, CIRESI, GALLAGHER AND
   CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, MAY 13, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, MAY 14, 2026
                          A RESOLUTION
1 Recognizing the month of May 2026 as "Guillain-Barré Syndrome
2    Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
3    WHEREAS, Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a rare acute
4 autoimmune condition which affects an individual's peripheral
5 nerves; and
6    WHEREAS, GBS was first described in 1916 by scientists
7 Guillain, Barré and Strohl and was believed to primarily affect
8 the limbs; and
9    WHEREAS, GBS is classified as an autoimmune disease due to
10 the fact that the immune system attacks healthy nerves and
11 damages them; and
12    WHEREAS, GBS affects 3,000 to 6,000 people annually in the
13 United States, according to the United States Centers for
14 Disease Control and Prevention; and
15    WHEREAS, GBS can affect anyone, however the disease typically
16 affects male adults over 50 years of age; and
17    WHEREAS, While the cause of GBS is not fully understood,
1 symptoms typically start shortly after a respiratory or
2 gastrointestinal bacterial or viral infection; and
3WHEREAS, GBS is not contagious and is characterized by a
4 rapid onset of symptoms, which typically increase in severity
5 over the course of the syndrome; and
6WHEREAS, Due to the risk of muscle paralysis, GBS usually
7 requires hospitalization; and
8WHEREAS, Those with GBS are typically able to fully recover
9 with immunotherapy treatments and rehabilitation; and
10WHEREAS, The National Institutes of Health's National
11 Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the National
12 Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases are currently
13 funding research into the cause of GBS as well as treatments;
14 and
15WHEREAS, The World Health Organization has included GBS in
16 its intersectoral global action plan on epilepsy and other
17 neurological disorders to improve care for conditions like GBS;
18 and
19WHEREAS, Organizations like GBS-CIDP Foundation International
20 are working to bring greater awareness to GBS; and
21WHEREAS, "Guillain-Barré Syndrome Awareness Month" is
22 recognized in May in order to raise awareness of GBS and
23 advocate for further research; therefore be it
24RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
25 month of May 2026 as "Guillain-Barré Syndrome Awareness Month"
26 in Pennsylvania.
20260HR0526PN3411  - 2 -