CDC pauses testing for rabies and other serious infectious diseases
NBC News • • general
Key Points:
- The CDC has temporarily paused diagnostic testing for over two dozen infectious diseases, including rabies and monkeypox, citing a routine review to maintain high-quality laboratory standards.
- This pause is larger than previous ones and coincides with significant staffing reductions at the CDC, which has seen a 20-25% decrease in personnel due to layoffs, retirements, and resignations.
- The affected tests include those for common infections like Epstein-Barr virus and varicella zoster, as well as rare diseases such as parasitic worm infections and rare viral illnesses.
- Some specialized state laboratories, such as those in New York and California, may partially compensate for the testing gaps during the CDC's pause.
- Experts express concern about the pauses only if they become permanent, emphasizing the importance of maintaining robust public health testing capabilities.
