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Fifty migrants who recently arrived in the UK have been diagnosed with diphtheria, the Immigration Minister has revealed.
Robert Jenrick told MPs that the number had risen from just four cases on November 1, when he gave the first update.
He said the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) had discovered that the cases, which were in separate shelters, had developed before the migrants entered the UK.
“It is important to stress that the UKHSA has made it clear that the risk to the wider UK population from further transmission of diphtheria is very low, not least thanks to our excellent childhood immunization programme,” he told the Commons.
He said that “public health is paramount” and the government will take all measures necessary to ensure that the public is protected.
earlier today The Home Office has declared 500 migrants They are vaccinated against diphtheria before being moved to further housing at Manston Processing Center in Kent.
Sky News also revealed today that a man who died after staying in Menston had the disease.
Mr Jenrick said initial tests on the man were negative but a subsequent PCR test showed he had diphtheria after a post-mortem.
He said migrants are screened on arrival in the UK and those with diphtheria are isolated in designated areas.
People with symptoms are being screened and so are their close contacts, he said.
The minister added that the measures “go beyond UKHSA’s basic advice because we want to take precautionary measures”.
All migrants who arrived at Menston this weekend took up the offer of the vaccine, which is voluntary, Mr Jenrick said.
When the government initially started giving the vaccine it was only around 45% but he said it is now 100%.
Labour’s shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper asked what was happening to the “several thousands more” who have been moved from Menston in the past month.
She expressed concern that not enough is being done to prevent the potential spread of diphtheria from people who have not been vaccinated because she said the public health recommendation for screening and vaccination was made about three weeks ago “and it was too late.” .
Ms Cooper called on ministers to ensure that all people with symptoms are given “precautionary antibiotics” to fight the disease.
Mr Jenrick said the Home Office and UKHSA were going to work with public health directors in areas where migrants are being sent to provide guidance on how to protect people from the disease.
Migrants who have been evacuated and have diphtheria “will need to be isolated in their rooms within that hotel or other type of accommodation”, he added.
They will have their food and laundry delivered to their doorsteps until they recover and further measures will be implemented if needed, he said.
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