Skip to content
topics.

CDC pauses testing for rabies and pox viruses

scienceApr 6, 2026633

The CDC has paused more than two dozen diagnostic tests, including rabies, pox viruses, Epstein-Barr and varicella zoster. The agency removed those tests from services provided to state and local health departments and halted mpox tracking. News reports and agency postings link the cutbacks to large staff reductions from layoffs, retirements, resignations, and nonrenewal of temporary appointments. The pause will reduce surveillance, slow diagnoses for serious infections like rabies, and hamper outbreak detection and public health response.

Key Highlights

CDC paused more than two dozen diagnostic tests, including rabies and pox viruses.
Testing for Epstein-Barr and varicella zoster is temporarily unavailable.
The pause reduces surveillance capacity and will delay outbreak detection.
3 sources
nbcnews.comCDC pauses testing for rabies and other serious infectious diseasesnytimes.comC.D.C. Pauses Testing for Rabies and Pox Virusescidrap.umn.eduState public health labs step up as CDC pauses testing for various pathogens, including rabies, mpox

Related

Artemis II crew to witness total solar eclipse during lunar flybyscienceCDC pauses testing for rabies and pox virusesscience