SENATE HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND SENIOR CITIZENS COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION No. 49
with committee amendments
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
DATED: DECEMBER 9, 2024
The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Joint Resolution No. 49.
As amended by the committee, this joint resolution designates March 30th of each year as “Menstrual Toxic Shock Syndrome Awareness Day” in New Jersey.
Menstrual Toxic Shock Syndrome (MTSS) is a preventable illness commonly caused by Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Clostridium bacterial infection. MTSS still affects over 17 in 100,000 women between the ages of 13 and 25 every year, which marks little progress since the 1980s in reducing the number of MTSS cases.
Risk factors for MTSS include the use of highly absorbent tampons, diaphragms, or contraceptive sponges. Symptoms of MTSS include headache, muscle ache, sore throat, cough, weakness, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, chills, fever, lightheadedness, dizziness, faint upon standing, confusion, disorientation, low blood pressure, increased heart rate, seizures, rash, redness of eyes, lips, and tongue, dysfunction of the digestive and circulatory systems, and the shedding of skin around the hands and feet.
In extreme cases, MTSS can result in organ damage, the loss of limbs, or death. Increased awareness of MTSS can help the citizens of the State of New Jersey identify and avoid suffering from this easily preventable illness.
This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 2024-2025 session pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:
The committee amendments revise the joint resolution’s preamble to remove the presence of surgical wounds or untreated infections and a history of recent childbirth, miscarriage, or abortion from the list of risk factors for Menstrual Toxic Shock Syndrome.