Manston health concerns raised with Home Office weeks before outbreak

Local officials warned of need to improve infection control measures shortly before diphtheria cases detected

The Home Office was warned about the need to improve infection control measures at Manston, its site for people arriving in small boats, weeks before the UK’s worst diphtheria outbreak in decades, the Guardian has learned.

Freedom of information disclosures from Thanet district council, obtained by the Guardian, have revealed a catalogue of concerns about failures in public health measures at the centre near Ramsgate, where initial checks are carried out on asylum seekers.

Handwashing was advised as a key infection control measure but there was a shortage of sinks and access to running water and some toilets had no handwashing facilities at all.

Some toilets were blocked and overflowing with excrement.

The chief medical officer, Chris Whitty, became involved in the crisis and ordered UKHSA officials to produce a rapid assessment of infectious disease risk on the site.

Confusion surrounding the release of people from Manston who may have had infectious conditions.