CDC Halts Testing for Dozens of Infectious Diseases

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has paused diagnostic testing for more than two dozen infectious diseases, including rabies, monkeypox, and other pathogens. The agency posted a list of unavailable tests this week, marking the most extensive pause in its lab testing services to date.

According to HuffPost, the CDC attributed the temporary halt to routine reviews aimed at maintaining high-quality laboratory standards. Andrew Nixon of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services stated that some tests may resume within weeks, with state and local partners being supported in the interim.

The pause coincides with significant staffing reductions at the CDC over the past year, with estimates suggesting a 20% to 25% decrease due to layoffs, retirements, and nonrenewal of temporary positions. The poxvirus and rabies labs have reportedly lost about half their staff, while the malaria branch has been particularly hard hit.

While some state laboratories in New York and California may temporarily cover the paused tests, concerns remain over the potential long-term impact on public health surveillance. Scott Becker of the Association of Public Health Laboratories described the situation as 'concerning if it's permanent.' Meanwhile, CBS News reported on a new COVID-19 variant called "Cicada" (BA.3.2), which has spread to 23 countries and at least 25 U.S. states but is not currently the dominant strain.

The CDC normally conducts testing for a wide range of pathogens to support state and local public health labs that lack the necessary capabilities. In late 2024, the agency began reviewing its testing programs as part of a broader internal evaluation. Among the suspended services are tests for relatively common infections for which commercial testing is available, such as the Epstein-Barr virus and the varicella zoster virus, which causes chickenpox and shingles.

The CDC has not responded to requests for comment from The Guardian. A combination of layoffs, hiring freezes, and staff departures has reduced the number of experienced scientists available to assist laboratories. By July, the rabies team will have only one expert capable of providing clinical guidance to state and local officials, while the poxvirus team will have none.

The suspension of these lab services follows a period of major workforce reductions at the CDC over the past year, driven by layoffs, retirements, resignations, and the expiration of temporary roles. The poxvirus and rabies units have each lost roughly half of their staff, while the CDC’s malaria division has been cut even more severely.

The CDC was thrown into upheaval last year when more than a thousand employees received notice from the Trump administration that they were losing their jobs in a move that erased entire offices within the agency. The move was then partly reversed days later, with hundreds of employees being offered their positions back.