C.D.C. Pauses Testing for Rabies and Mpox
Quick Insights
The Bottom Line
The CDC has paused testing for rabies and mpox due to staffing constraints, removing federal testing capacity for these diseases.
How This Affects You
If you or a family member contracts rabies or mpox, diagnosis and treatment may be delayed as state and local health departments lose access to federal CDC testing.
AI Summary
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has paused testing for rabies and mpox, removing both diseases from the laboratory tests it provides to state and local health departments. The agency cited staffing constraints as the reason for the decision, according to the excerpt. Public health experts are concerned that the testing may not resume given the significant staff reductions the C.D.C. has experienced. Rabies and mpox are serious infectious diseases requiring rapid diagnosis; the pause could delay identification and treatment of cases. The move reflects broader strain on federal public health infrastructure amid ongoing budget and personnel pressures at the agency.
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CDC temporarily halts testing for several infectious diseases amid staffing shortages
<p>Federal agency, which normally supports state and local public health labs, has been hobbled by staff departures</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2026/feb/17/sign-up-for-the-breaking-news-us-email-to-get-newsletter-alerts-direct-to-your-inbox?utm_medium=ACQUISITIONS_STANDFIRST&utm_campaign=BN22326&utm_content=signup&utm_term=standfirst&utm_source=GUARDIAN_WEB">Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox</a></p></li></ul><p>The US federal agency responsible for monitoring diseases has temporarily halted certain diagnostic testing, including those for rabies, human herpesvirus and several other <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/infectiousdiseases">infectious illnesses</a>.</p><p>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released <a href="https://cdc.gov/infectious-diseases-labs/php/test-directory/index.html">a list</a> on Monday showing that more than two dozen types of testing are now un...
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