Warning as UK cases of diphtheria start to rise – the 7 signs you need to know

TWO asylum seekers have been hospitalised with diphtheria amid a huge surge in cases of the infectious disease, new figures reveal.

The highly contagious and sometimes fatal disease, affects the skin, nose and throat.

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This follows reports that one person died from diphtheria last week after being held at Manston processing centre in Kent.

According to new data published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) today, 50 asylum seekers who recently arrived in the UK tested positive for diphtheria  from January 1 to November 25 this year.

Two of those cases were hospitalised with the bug.

Diphtheria is a highly contagious infection that affects the nose, throat and sometimes cause ulcers on the skin.

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The number of  asylum seekers with the infection spiked in November to 27 cases, compared 18 cases were reported in October and just one each month between June and September.

The 50 diphtheria cases in 2022 is a significant increase from last year, when there was just 10 reported in the UK.

According to the data provided by UKHSA, the majority of cases were found in the South East of England, where the Manston is based.

The Manston migration centre in Kent is now 3,000 people over its 1,000 capacity and continues to grow.

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Sir Roger Gale - the MP for North Thanet - said the conditions are "wholly unacceptable".

He told BBC Radio 4 last month: "There are simply far too many people and this situation should never have been allowed to develop, and I'm not sure that it hasn't almost been developed deliberately."

Health secretary, Steve Barclay, claimed there was a "targeted action of vaccination" at the Manston migrant processing centre and 500 people were given a jab for diphtheria before they were moved into the wider community,

What are the 7 symptoms of diphtheria you need to know:

Symptoms of the illness usually start two to five days after you become infected.

The NHS says the key signs include:

1. a thick grey-white coating that may cover the back of your throat, nose and tongue
2. a high temperature (fever)
3. sore throat
4. swollen glands in your neck
5. difficulty breathing and swallowing
6. pus-filled blisters on your legs, feet and hands
7. large ulcers surrounded by red, sore looking skin

Since 2018, the (WHO) has reported a rise in cases in places such as Indonesia, India, South American and Africa.

It's spread by coughs and sneezes or through close contact with someone who is infected.

You can, however, also get it from sharing items such as cups, clothing or bedding with an infected person.

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Babies and children in the UK are vaccinated against diphtheria, meaning cases are rare.

However, the infection is potentially dangerous to migrants who come from countries where this is not the case.