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CDC pauses testing for rabies and pox viruses

scienceApr 7, 2026535

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has paused dozens of diagnostic tests, including those for rabies, mpox, Epstein-Barr virus, and varicella zoster. The suspension halts reference testing and disease tracking that state and local health departments rely on. CDC says it paused the tests to review laboratory operations and ensure testing quality at its main public health lab. The pause will delay clinical diagnoses, hamper outbreak detection, and shift testing burdens to state labs.

Key Highlights

CDC paused dozens of diagnostic tests including rabies and mpox.
Testing for Epstein-Barr and varicella zoster is temporarily halted.
Pause affects national surveillance and clinical confirmations, shifting burden to states.
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

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