A man held at the Manston processing centre may have died of a highly infectious disease.
The Home Office initially said there was ‘no evidence’ that was the case but tests have revealed he may have had diphtheria.
The potentially deadly and contagious infection, which spreads via coughs and sneezes, is extremely rare in the UK.
It’s believed the man had travelled to the UK on a small boat across the Channel before being taken to the controversial Kent immigration facility.
He died in hospital on November 19 after falling ill at Manston.
A government spokesperson said an initial test came back negative but a follow-up PCR was positive for the illness.
They continued: ‘We take the safety and welfare of those in our care extremely seriously and are taking all of the necessary steps following these results.
‘We are offering diphtheria vaccinations to people at Manston, which has 24/7 health facilities and trained medical staff.’
It is not clear from the statement if the Home Office is carrying out any track and trace measures on other people who were at the centre and have been moved around the country.
As of November 10 the UK Health Security Agency identified 39 diphtheria cases in asylum seekers in England in 2022.
The health authority warned that accommodation settings should be considered ‘high-risk for infectious diseases’.
The Home Office initially said there was ‘no evidence at this stage to suggest that this tragic death was caused by an infectious disease’.
A post-mortem examination and a coroner’s investigation are ongoing.
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Migrants who are taken to Manston are meant to spend no more than 24 hours there before being taken to accommodation.
It was built on an old military base to house 1,600 people but at one point as many as 4,000 were crammed in, some for several weeks.
The government admitted conditions were well below standards after it emerged children were sleeping on the floor on mats.
On Tuesday the government said the backlog had been dealt with and the site had been emptied, though new arrivals are still expected to be taken there.
Home secretary Suella Braverman has admitted the government has ‘failed to control our borders’.
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