The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has paused its diagnostic testing services for rabies, mpox, and several other infectious diseases, according to agency announcements.

The diseases have been removed from the list of tests that the CDC conducts for state and local health departments. The pause affects dozens of types of laboratory testing that the federal agency previously provided to support public health surveillance and outbreak response efforts.

The suspension comes as the CDC undergoes an evaluation period and following recent staff reductions at the agency. The timing has raised concerns among public health experts about the agency's capacity to resume these critical testing services.

The affected tests include diagnostic services for rabies and mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, which have been important tools for state and local health departments in managing potential outbreaks and ensuring proper patient care.

Public health experts have expressed worry that the combination of staff cuts and the current pause may impact the agency's ability to restore these testing capabilities in the future. The CDC has not announced a timeline for when the suspended testing services might resume.