UK Authorities: Risk of Diphtheria ‘Very Low’ Despite Suspected Rise Among Illegal Immigrants

A memorial sign in the village of Manston, Kent, England, on Nov. 9, 2022. Chris Summers/The Epoch Times

Britain’s health secretary has said that the risk of the public contracting diphtheria is “very low,” despite a rise in suspected cases among illegal immigrants being held in the country.

Speaking at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, Minister of State for Health Steve Barclay said that one of the reasons for the low risk was that there had been a “very high uptake of vaccinations within the local population.”

Cases Rising

Barclay’s comments come after it was reported that more than 70 illegal immigrants with suspected cases of the infection were removed from a clearing facility in Manston, Kent.

Barclay told reporters that authorities “had a targeted action of vaccinations at Manston and so 500 people were vaccinated before they actually left Manston.”

Meanwhile, the President of the Association of Directors of Public Health, Jim McManus, has urged the government to work in collaboration with the authorities to manage the situation. In comments critical of the government, McManus said the “current situation could and should have been prevented through joint working and it is entirely arguable that the lack of information, coordination, and engagement from the Home Office has made the situation far worse than it could have been.”

Data released on Nov. 10 from the UK Health Security Agency had so far identified 39 cases of the disease among illegal immigrants in England this year.

Under Pressure

The UK’s Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, is under increased pressure over the issue after it was reported that a migrant who had contracted diphtheria and was being held at the Manston centre died on Nov. 19. It has yet to be confirmed if the migrant died because of the disease.

In October, the Manston clearing site was at the centre of controversy following reports of overcrowding. Manston was originally set up to house 1,600 migrants, but reports suggested the number had reached 4,000, resulting in the government relocating them to several hotels around the country.

According to the National Health Service, diphtheria is highly contagious and causes symptoms such as a high fever, sore throat, swollen glands, and a thick grey-white coating that can cover the back of the throat, nose, and tongue. If treatment is not administered, the outcome can be fatal.

The development is the latest in several controversies that have plagued the Conservative government over the ongoing immigration crisis which has seen more than 40,000 migrants cross the channel on small boats before arriving in the UK this year alone.

PA Media contributed to this report.