AJMC® in the Press, May 1, 2026

The article, “Mpox, Rabies Diagnostic Testing Paused by CDC Amid Downsizing,” featured on AJMC.com, the website of The American Journal of Managed Care^®, details the CDC’s decision to suspend diagnostic testing for several viruses and illnesses, including rabies and mpox, as part of a strategic downsizing and laboratory restructuring effort. This pause shifts the responsibility for initial diagnostic confirmation entirely onto state and local public health laboratories, raising concerns about potential delays in treatments like postexposure prophylaxis. The Shreveport Times referenced this article to inform Louisiana residents about how these federal service cuts might impact local veterinary and human medical protocols during rabies encounters. The article underscores the increased importance of local surveillance and public awareness regarding wildlife in Louisiana, such as bats and skunks, which remain primary carriers of the virus.