US Government Shutdown Halts National Respiratory Virus Surveillance Amid Rising Infections

The 2025–2026 respiratory virus season is expected to be "normal-to-busy," with combined hospitalizations from flu, COVID-19, and RSV similar to last year, according to CDC projections and Dr. Dylan Wyatt, an emergency medicine physician. Vaccination remains crucial, with recommendations for flu shots for everyone over 6 months, COVID-19 vaccines for most people, and RSV vaccines or antibody treatments for high-risk groups. However, the ongoing federal government shutdown has halted CDC respiratory virus surveillance and disrupted the publication of critical data on these viruses, leaving states and health systems without updated national reports as virus activity increases. States are now relying on their own resources to monitor outbreaks, but the lack of CDC dashboards and analyses reduces early warnings and public information, potentially hindering preparedness and response efforts. Experts highlight that this data gap is like missing weather or traffic reports, impairing the public's ability to make informed health decisions, especially amid declining vaccination rates and increased misinformation. The Trump administration has pledged to restore government operations, but responses and updates may be delayed during the shutdown, complicating coordination in this important public health area.