A Cabinet minister today tried to downplay a surge of diphtheria among asylum seekers - as he insisted they had it “before they came” to the UK.
Cases have rocketed among small boat arrivals, with the death of a man who was held at the Manston processing centre possibly linked to the bacteria.
Officials are set to announce tomorrow that about 50 cases have been identified - amid fears the disease could have been spread as migrants were dispersed to hotels around the country.
The Lib Dems said Home Secretary Suella Braverman "must take responsibility and resign immediately" over the “callous” treatment of desperate people.
But Tory minister Mark Harper told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday: “My understanding is, those cases were people who had that disease before they came to the United Kingdom.
“And of course, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is working very closely with the NHS to make sure we look after the people that have been identified with diphtheria to make sure that they get the treatment and care that they need.”
The Mirror understands UKHSA officials do not currently have evidence that the disease has passed on to new cases within migrant centres. However, they are not ruling it out.
Mr Harper's comments appear to be challenged by a public health chief who said the situation “could and should have been prevented.”
Jim McManus, president of the Association of Directors of Public Health, told The Sunday Times a “lack of information, co-ordination and engagement from the Home Office” may have made things “far worse”.
He added it has “put both asylum seekers and potentially hotel workers at avoidable and preventable risk.”
The UK Health Security Agency has also said there is a “risk of diphtheria being passed on within asylum seeker settings”.
Yet Cabinet minister Mr Harper tried to downplay concerns about the disease, saying: “There's extremely low risk to the wider community. That's a disease which… the vaccination is in the standard childhood vaccination package.”
Told the concerns were about the asylum seekers themselves, not the wider community, he replied: “We take the welfare of people in our care very seriously.”
Diphtheria is a highly contagious infection affecting the nose, throat and sometimes skin.
The NHS says it is rare in the UK and can be treated through antibiotics and other medicines.
The Government said on Saturday that a PCR test on the man who died after being held, possibly unlawfully, at the centre for a week indicates that "diphtheria may be the cause of the illness".
Initial tests at a hospital near the centre, where Home Secretary Suella Braverman has faced criticism about overcrowding and outbreaks of disease, had been negative before a follow-up came back positive.
The man then died in hospital on November 19. He is believed to have entered the UK on a small boat seven days earlier.
Liberal Democrat health spokeswoman Daisy Cooper said the Home Secretary should resign, adding: “The UK is better than this.
“The Conservative Government should be ashamed of their callous complacency over the health and well-being of asylum seekers coming out of Manston.”
As of November 10, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) had identified 39 diphtheria cases in asylum seekers in England in 2022.
But it’s understood an update taking into account the number of cases up until Friday will put the figure at about 50.
A Government spokeswoman said: "Our thoughts remain with the family of the man who has died and all those affected by this loss.
"Initial test results processed by a local hospital for an infectious disease were negative, but a follow-up PCR test was positive, indicating that diphtheria may be the cause of the illness. The coroner will conclude in due course.
"We take the safety and welfare of those in our care extremely seriously and are taking all of the necessary steps following these results."
Diphtheria vaccinations will be offered to any new arrivals at Manston, the spokeswoman said, though the facility is understood to be currently empty.
A post-mortem examination and a coroner's investigation are ongoing.
The UKHSA warned that accommodation settings should be considered "high-risk for infectious diseases".
Dr Trish Mannes, UKHSA director for the South East, said: "The risk of diphtheria to the wider public remains 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.
"In order to limit the risk of diphtheria being passed on within asylum seeker settings, UKHSA continues to recommend that individuals arriving at reception centres, and who have moved on recently, are offered a diphtheria vaccine and preventative treatment."
