SENATOR ANWAR ISSUES STATEMENT FOLLOWING CONFIRMATION OF FIRST MEASLES CASE IN CONNECTICUT SINCE 2021

Today, State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor), Senate Chair of the Public Health Committee, issued the following statement after the Department of Public Health confirmed the first case of measles in Connecticut since 2021. An unvaccinated child under the age of 10 in Fairfield County contracted the disease following international travel, the DPH said.

“As a physician, a state senator, and a parent, I am deeply concerned by the report of a confirmed measles case involving a young child here in Connecticut. My thoughts and prayers are with this child and their family, and I am hoping for a full and speedy recovery.

Measles is a highly contagious illness, and I am worried about the risk of further spread, especially to infants, immunocompromised individuals, and others who are most vulnerable in our community. This moment calls for calm, vigilance, and compassion, not fear.

Connecticut’s strong vaccination rates and public health response give us reason for confidence, and I urge families to stay informed, follow guidance from the Department of Public Health, and ensure vaccinations are up to date. Protecting one another, especially our children, is both a medical responsibility and a moral one.

I will continue to work closely with our public health leaders to support prevention efforts, protect access to care, and keep our communities safe.”