A spike in rabies cases has increased in Hays County, Texas, with 12 confirmed cases this year, the most in Central Texas. The Centers For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC) has temporarily paused some testing for rabies and other viruses, raising concerns about whether local testing could be impacted. Health officials say the federal pause only applies to human rabies testing and should not impact animal testing in Texas. However, local veterinarians warn of the potential impact of this pause, calling for proactive measures to prevent cases of rabies in Hases County and surrounding areas. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) maintains that state and local health departments have stepped in to handle the situation.