Summary
The ongoing U.S. government shutdown is delaying updates to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) health tracking systems, which are important for monitoring outbreaks of contagious illnesses like the flu. Because of the shutdown, the CDC's systems aren't being updated regularly, affecting hospitals' capacity to prepare for outbreaks.
Key Facts
- The government shutdown began on October 1, 2025, due to Congress not passing a funding bill.
- The CDC's disease tracking dashboards, which monitor flu, COVID, and other illnesses, are not being updated as frequently.
- The CDC's COVID-19 monitoring report has not been updated since September 20, 2025.
- Hospitals rely on CDC data to prepare for outbreaks, especially during flu season.
- The shutdown affects funding for federal services, including health care and disease tracking.
- Health care services, like open enrollment and telehealth flexibilities, face delays due to the shutdown.
- The shutdown interrupts the CDC's ability to provide routine flu data and other public health tasks.
- Most CDC funds go to state and regional departments for disease tracking, which is disrupted by the shutdown.
