Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, a public-private partnership global health organisation, has announced the approval of the first-ever measles rapid diagnostic tests to support vaccination efforts.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Gavi said the rapid measles diagnostic tests would support targeted vaccination during outbreaks and the identification of priorities for preventive vaccination efforts.

The measles diagnostic tests were funded by Gavi and manufactured by DIATROPIX, a subsidiary of Institut Pasteur de Dakar in Senegal.

Chief Vaccine Programmes and Markets Officer, An Vermeersch, said, “Improving the effectiveness of vaccinations, strengthening outbreak response and investing in local manufacturing are central tenets to the Gavi Leap and our efforts to build our work around the needs of countries.”

Mr Vermeersch added, “By investing in local manufacturing capacity, we are not only helping to protect communities now, we are also putting in place systems that are better able to help prevent outbreaks from happening again in the future.”

The breakthrough was achieved following Gavi’s partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Gates Foundation and other stakeholders to advance measles surveillance and support faster outbreak response.

These new measles diagnostics were thoroughly evaluated by the Public Health Agency of Canada’s National Microbiology Laboratory under WHO’s Global Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network to determine whether they meet the required standards.

The UK Health Security Agency also supported the development and validation of the tests.

The Gates Foundation provided about $7 million, while Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) provided $1 million to support the development process.

Gavi said up to 500,000 tests are expected to be deployed annually once the programme is complete, with the first rollout starting later this year in Senegal.

The tests also form part of its $43 million investment package approved by the Gavi Board in 2025 to fund diagnostic kits across a range of diseases.

It added that, due to immunisation efforts, it had recorded a huge reduction in global cases and deaths since 2000, with these vaccines saving nearly 20 million lives in Africa.

It noted that effective strategies for measles control must be guided by timely and reliable measles surveillance data to aid in fighting outbreaks through rapid response and effective preventive efforts, leading to less morbidity and mortality.

Gavi said measles immunity gaps remain a significant concern globally, given the high transmissibility of the virus and the high risk of serious outbreaks, adding that despite the availability of safe and cost-effective vaccines, populations without adequate protection face a resurgence of outbreaks and deaths.

It added that countries with large outbreaks have almost tripled since 2021, with 59 countries experiencing large or disruptive outbreaks in 2024.

In developing countries, coverage has dropped below required levels, with more than 15.6 million children in these countries missing a first dose of measles vaccine despite progress in 2025.

These gaps indicate early signs of weaknesses in routine childhood immunisation systems.

In 2024, an estimated 95,000 measles deaths were recorded globally, including among those who had never received a single routine vaccine and under-immunised children under five.

These diagnostic tests can therefore help countries and partners identify communities with high numbers of unimmunised or under-immunised children.

Canada’s Minister of Health, Marjorie Michel, said, “This breakthrough demonstrates what can be achieved through strong international collaboration, scientific excellence and innovation. I am proud that the Public Health Agency of Canada’s National Microbiology Laboratory played a key role in conducting the laboratory evaluation of this new test through the WHO’s Global Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network.

“This important global achievement will help countries detect measles cases sooner, particularly in communities where timely laboratory access is limited. Faster detection means quicker outbreak responses, stronger surveillance and, ultimately, better protection for children and communities from this preventable disease.”

Kate O’Brien, Director of the Department of Immunisation, Vaccines and Biologicals at WHO, said, “The first-ever measles rapid diagnostic test is a major achievement for outbreak detection and response. By enabling fast, affordable case confirmation closer to where people live, the test has the potential to transform measles surveillance, especially in remote, fragile and emergency settings where laboratory access is limited, and accelerate efforts towards measles elimination.”

Greg Widmyer, Director, Immunisation, Gates Foundation, said, “Measles remains one of the clearest warning signs of gaps in routine immunization. This rapid test gives countries a faster, more affordable way to identify measles cases, respond to outbreaks, and target vaccination where it’s needed most. We’re proud to have supported its development with partners in Senegal and the UK, and we look forward to seeing country partners bring it to the communities that need it.”

UNICEF’s Global Chief of Immunisation, Ephrem Lemango, said, “Every measles case is a warning that children and communities are being missed by routine immunization. UNICEF will work with governments and partners to strengthen national immunization systems, so they are more responsive and adaptive, integrating rapid diagnostic tests to identify gaps earlier and reach missed children faster.”