Rep. Henderson-Myers (Credit: scblackcaucus.com)
SPARTANBURG – State Representative Rosalyn Henderson-Myers (D-Spartanburg) is calling for the South Carolina House of Representatives to convene a special ad hoc committee to address the "ongoing public health crisis sparked by 147 confirmed cases of measles in the Upstate of South Carolina."
The text of Rep. Henderson-Myers’s letter to Speaker Murrell Smith is included below:
“I write to respectfully request the establishment of a special ad hoc committee of the South Carolina House of Representatives to address the measles public health crisis in our state.
Measles is an extremely contagious viral disease that can have severe health consequences. This year, South Carolina has seen a marked increase in confirmed cases in the Upstate. The situation in Spartanburg County has been particularly challenging, with the majority of cases clustered here, triggering quarantines and disrupting local schools and health services. Recent reporting by the South Carolina Department of Public Health reports 147 confirmed cases of measles, with 144 cases in Spartanburg County.
This outbreak threatens not just individual health, but the functioning of families, schools, and local health systems. Measles is preventable through vaccination, yet current conditions indicate gaps in community immunity that warrant legislative attention and coordinated action.
To ensure a comprehensive response to this outbreak of measles, I respectfully request the convening of a special ad hoc committee charged with evaluating the scope and drivers of the outbreak, assessing public health capacity and resource needs, and developing policy recommendations to strengthen our response to current and future outbreaks.
South Carolina has a strong tradition of responding to public health threats through collaboration and legislative oversight. Now is the time to act decisively to protect the health and well-being of our citizens, particularly the most vulnerable among us.
Thank you for considering this request. I would be honored to work with you and my colleagues on this critical issue.
Respectfully,
Representative Rosalyn Henderson-Myers”