Alex Helmick

The conference, called ID Week, discusses how to treat, prevent, and diagnose infectious diseases.

Officials say the conference chose Atlanta in part because the CDC is based here.

But federal scientists at the CDC aren't being paid during the shutdown, and conference fees would not be covered by the government.

And their absence has been notable.

It comes at a time when measles and whooping cough infections are increasing in the country.

The CDC has lost thousands of employees under the Trump administration through layoffs and resignations.