Politics News – Live: Diphtheria cases rise 50% but public risk 'low'

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New data has revealed a 50% increase in the number of diphtheria cases over the past month, while two asylum seekers have been hospitalized with the disease.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay has insisted the risk of the public contracting diphtheria is "very low" despite an expected rise in the number of recorded infections.

He said hundreds of migrants were being vaccinated against the highly contagious disease before being moved from the Manston treatment center in Kent to hotels across the country, but stressed the situation was being monitored "from close".

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) had identified 39 cases of diphtheria among asylum seekers in England this year as of 10 November. The number is believed to have risen to around 50, with authorities expected to confirm the figure later.

Asked about the risk to the general public, he added: "The risk is very low, partly because there is very high use of vaccination amongst the UK public in the first place.

"But we also had a targeted action of vaccinations in Manston and so 500 people were vaccinated before they actually leave Manston, and that's something the UKHSA are watching very closely.”