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| Diphtheria cases rising among asylum seekers | Diphtheria cases rising among asylum seekers |
| (3 months later) | |
| Manston Airport detention centre in Kent | Manston Airport detention centre in Kent |
| The number of cases of diphtheria among asylum seekers who have recently arrived in the UK has risen to more than 50, the BBC understands. | The number of cases of diphtheria among asylum seekers who have recently arrived in the UK has risen to more than 50, the BBC understands. |
| It comes after it was confirmed that one migrant who died after being held at Manston processing centre in Kent had contracted the disease. | It comes after it was confirmed that one migrant who died after being held at Manston processing centre in Kent had contracted the disease. |
| The man died in hospital on 19 November after entering the UK on a small boat seven days earlier. | The man died in hospital on 19 November after entering the UK on a small boat seven days earlier. |
| The Home Office said it takes the welfare of those in its care seriously. | The Home Office said it takes the welfare of those in its care seriously. |
| This week, health officials are set to confirm there have been more than 50 diphtheria cases among asylum seekers this year, the BBC understands. | This week, health officials are set to confirm there have been more than 50 diphtheria cases among asylum seekers this year, the BBC understands. |
| In 2021, there were three of the same strain, according to government data. | In 2021, there were three of the same strain, according to government data. |
| Diphtheria is a highly contagious infection that affects the nose, throat and sometimes cause ulcers on the skin. | Diphtheria is a highly contagious infection that affects the nose, throat and sometimes cause ulcers on the skin. |
| According to the NHS website, it's spread by coughs and sneezes or through close contact with someone who is infected, and in serious cases can be fatal. | According to the NHS website, it's spread by coughs and sneezes or through close contact with someone who is infected, and in serious cases can be fatal. |
| You can also get it by sharing items such as cups, cutlery, clothing or bedding with an infected person. | You can also get it by sharing items such as cups, cutlery, clothing or bedding with an infected person. |
| Babies and children in the UK are vaccinated against diphtheria, meaning cases are rare. However, the infection is potentially dangerous to migrants who come from countries where this is not the case. | Babies and children in the UK are vaccinated against diphtheria, meaning cases are rare. However, the infection is potentially dangerous to migrants who come from countries where this is not the case. |
| The UK Health Security Agency (HSA) says it is not known if the more than 50 people who have or have had diphtheria were infected at Manston. | The UK Health Security Agency (HSA) says it is not known if the more than 50 people who have or have had diphtheria were infected at Manston. |
| The body said that cases have been rising amongst asylum seekers across Europe and some people reported symptoms before arriving, and so could have been infected in their home country. | The body said that cases have been rising amongst asylum seekers across Europe and some people reported symptoms before arriving, and so could have been infected in their home country. |
| However, the incubation period for the illness is between two and five days, with a maximum of 10 days, so infections in people who were at Manston are likely to be recent. | However, the incubation period for the illness is between two and five days, with a maximum of 10 days, so infections in people who were at Manston are likely to be recent. |
| Migrant staying at Manston processing centre dies | Migrant staying at Manston processing centre dies |
| Migrant death may have been caused by diphtheria | Migrant death may have been caused by diphtheria |
| A post-mortem examination is trying to determine whether the man held at Manston died because of his diphtheria infection. | A post-mortem examination is trying to determine whether the man held at Manston died because of his diphtheria infection. |
| According to a Home Office spokesperson, hospital tests indicate "diphtheria may be the cause of the illness". | According to a Home Office spokesperson, hospital tests indicate "diphtheria may be the cause of the illness". |
| Initial tests were negative and the Home Office said at the time there was "no evidence at this stage" that the person had died from an infectious disease. But a follow-up PCR test for diphtheria has since produced a positive result. | Initial tests were negative and the Home Office said at the time there was "no evidence at this stage" that the person had died from an infectious disease. But a follow-up PCR test for diphtheria has since produced a positive result. |
| Health officials have advised vaccines and antibiotics are offered to people on arrival at their new accommodation, and close contacts are identified. | Health officials have advised vaccines and antibiotics are offered to people on arrival at their new accommodation, and close contacts are identified. |
| The Manston centre was cleared of people earlier this month after reports of overcrowding and outbreaks of disease. There are concerns that people who may have had diphtheria have been moved around the country. | The Manston centre was cleared of people earlier this month after reports of overcrowding and outbreaks of disease. There are concerns that people who may have had diphtheria have been moved around the country. |
| The Sunday Times reports that Jim McManus, president of the Association of Directors of Public Health, said this "had put asylum seekers and potentially hotel workers at avoidable and preventable risk" and had "created additional and preventable burdens on local health system". | The Sunday Times reports that Jim McManus, president of the Association of Directors of Public Health, said this "had put asylum seekers and potentially hotel workers at avoidable and preventable risk" and had "created additional and preventable burdens on local health system". |
| He also accused the Home Office of a "lack of co-ordination" that has "made the situation far worse than it could be". | He also accused the Home Office of a "lack of co-ordination" that has "made the situation far worse than it could be". |
| Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Daisy Cooper said the government should be "ashamed" of what she called "callous complacency over the health and well-being of asylum seekers". | Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Daisy Cooper said the government should be "ashamed" of what she called "callous complacency over the health and well-being of asylum seekers". |
| A Home Office spokesperson said: "We work closely with a range of partners within the community including local authorities and health leads to make sure information is shared in a timely way and that everyone leaving Manston is given access to appropriate treatment. | A Home Office spokesperson said: "We work closely with a range of partners within the community including local authorities and health leads to make sure information is shared in a timely way and that everyone leaving Manston is given access to appropriate treatment. |
| "As the UK Health Security Agency have made clear, the risk of diphtheria to the public is very low, due to high uptake of the diphtheria vaccine in this country and because the infection is typically passed on through close prolonged contact with a case. | "As the UK Health Security Agency have made clear, the risk of diphtheria to the public is very low, due to high uptake of the diphtheria vaccine in this country and because the infection is typically passed on through close prolonged contact with a case. |
| "We take both the welfare of those in our care and our wider public health responsibilities extremely seriously. As such, we continue to work closely with the NHS and UKHSA to support the individuals affected and limit the transmission of infection." | "We take both the welfare of those in our care and our wider public health responsibilities extremely seriously. As such, we continue to work closely with the NHS and UKHSA to support the individuals affected and limit the transmission of infection." |
| Why were there problems at Manston migrant centre? | Why were there problems at Manston migrant centre? |
| Inside the seaside town at centre of asylum debate | Inside the seaside town at centre of asylum debate |
| The Manston migrant processing facility is a former military base and is designed to hold just 1,600 people. But in October there were around 4,000 migrants being held there. | The Manston migrant processing facility is a former military base and is designed to hold just 1,600 people. But in October there were around 4,000 migrants being held there. |
| More than 40,000 migrants have crossed the Channel on small boats this year. | More than 40,000 migrants have crossed the Channel on small boats this year. |
| Home Secretary Suella Braverman told the Home Affairs Select Committee that the government had "failed to control our borders". She also blamed migrants and people smugglers for the chaos at Manston. | Home Secretary Suella Braverman told the Home Affairs Select Committee that the government had "failed to control our borders". She also blamed migrants and people smugglers for the chaos at Manston. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Home Office | Home Office |
| Manston | Manston |
| Health | |
| Migration | Migration |