Concerns over asylum infections

ASYLUM seekers with diphtheria symptoms will be isolated after the number of infections among those coming to the UK increased to 50.

UK immigration minister Robert Jenrick told MPS that migrants showing signs of the highly-contagious disease will be separated for a “short period” at the Manston processing centre in Kent or held in a “designated isolation centre” while they are treated.

Any asylum seekers who may have the infection but are already in hotels will be told to isolate in their rooms, Mr Jenrick said.

It comes after Home Secretary Suella Braverman faced criticism about overcrowding and outbreaks of disease at Manston, and the Home Office said a man held there may have died from a diphtheria infection.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said there had been an “increase” in cases of diphtheria reported among asylum seekers arriving in the UK, with 50 identified as of November 25.

The figure stood at 39 on November 10. Mr Jenrick said: “From today, no-one presenting with symptoms will progress into the asylum accommodation system.

“They will either remain at Manston, isolating for a short period, or they will travel to a designated isolation centre in secure transport where they will be treated until deemed medically fit.”

Some public health experts raised concerns about the spread of the disease as migrants were moved to hotels.

Earlier, Health Secretary Steve Barclay said 500 people were vaccinated before they were moved out of Manston and into hotels around the country.

All migrants are being offered a vaccine on arrivals in the UK.

Ministers and health officials have insisted the risk of the public getting diphtheria is very low and infections are rare. The illness – which affects the nose, throat and sometimes skin – can be fatal if not treated quickly, but antibiotics and other medicines are available.

A man held at Manston died in hospital on November 19 after crossing the Channel seven days earlier.

Labour’s shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said: “The processes that he has just described now clearly are important, but why on earth were they not put in place many weeks ago?

“It took until November 11, after thousands of people had been held there for weeks for screening and vaccinations on diphtheria to be recommended for everyone passing through Manston.”

She added: “The Health Secretary has said that 500 people have now been screened and vaccinated – what about the other several thousand people who have been in Manston? Wherever they now are in the country, have they been screened and vaccinated for diphtheria as well?

“If not, why on earth not? Because that was the public health recommendation nearly three weeks ago and that was already late.”

Earlier, Rishi Sunak had been urged by more than 50 Tory MPS to change modern slavery laws with emergency legislation in a bid to reduce small boat crossings of the Channel.

The Prime Minister has been pressed by the group, including former cabinet ministers, to rapidly implement a “simple” change in the law to help tackle the issue.

The Conservative MPS want changes to modern slavery laws to make it easier for people they believe are “bogus asylum seekers”, who say they are victims of trafficking, to be returned from the UK.

In a letter arranged by former Brexit secretary David Davis, the Tory backbenchers say that the Channel crossings are a “Gordian Knot that needs cutting with a simple policy”.

Signatories including Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, demand that “economic migrants” travelling from “safe countries” such as Albania are returned more quickly.

Downing Street declined to comment on the letter, but said the Prime Minister is considering the issue of people coming from nations regarded as safe.

The PM’S official spokesperson added: “We recognise that there are a number of countries which are deemed safe and people should not be travelling illegally from safe countries to make their way here.”

The processes that he has just described now clearly are important, but why on earth were they not put in place many weeks ago?