NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - As the federal government shutdown continues, the fallout is felt in a myriad of ways, including access to important health data.

“I use data from the (Centers for Disease Control) to monitor infectious diseases, especially COVID-19,” said Dr. Michael Hoerger, program lead for Population Science at the Tulane Cancer Center.

“I take the CDC data, which are sometimes difficult for people to understand, and translate them into numbers people can use that are used by patients, families, public health programs across the country.”

A note now posted on the CDC’s website says, “Certain federal government activities have ceased due to a lack of appropriate funding.”

Up-to-date CDC data is important for Hoerger’s work.

“Right now, the CDC website that monitors COVID is bas

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