The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has temporarily halted testing for rabies and pox viruses, including mpox, as part of an agencywide review of its diagnostic capabilities. The decision comes amid severe staffing shortages following widespread layoffs and hiring freezes that have decimated specialized teams. By July, the rabies team will be down to just one expert.

Public health laboratories that rely on CDC testing are scrambling to fill the gap. While some states like New York and California can perform rabies testing, the CDC remains the only agency capable of nationwide disease tracking. The cuts have already affected testing for other pathogens, with the number of unavailable tests fluctuating from nearly 50 in January to 27 this week.

The timing raises concerns as the nation faces potential health threats from bird flu and prepares for major events like the World Cup and 250th anniversary celebrations. Experts warn that without adequate CDC testing capacity, the country could be dangerously unprepared for the next pandemic. "If we have an emergency all of a sudden, God help us," said former New York State public health lab director Jill Taylor.