A “sharp increase” in cases of diphtheria in the UK and across Europe has been linked to small boat crossings, research has found.

Scientists at the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) said the new outbreaks across the continent over the last 12 months have been “mostly linked to incoming migrants”.

It comes as more than 1,100 migrants have crossed the Channel in the past week, a record for the year so far.

Diphtheria is a contagious infection and can be fatal, but is rare in the UK due to a vaccination programme for babies and children which has been in place since the 1940s.

The report for England by the ESCMID uses data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), and is based on the testing of hundreds of cases across 10 countries in Europe.

It shows 73 cases of diphtheria were recorded in England in 2022, up from 12 the previous year.

One further case has been recorded this year so far.

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“Young Afghan males” aged under 18 with “unknown vaccination history” made up 97% of the patients, with the UKHSA noting the group could be “over-represented” thanks to “greater clinical awareness and case ascertainment” among the demographic.

Just over half (51%) showed skin problems caused by the infection, which can include blisters on legs, feet and hands, and large ulcers.

The report shows 12% had no symptoms, with the disease picked up through screening or contact tracing.

The authors said: “Linked to an increase in migrant arrivals via small boat in the summer of 2022, the UK experienced a sharp increase in diphtheria cases caused by toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae last year.”

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In reference to Europe as a whole, there had been “evident transmission among migrant people” which the authors believed had occurred “during travel within migrant facilities”.

They added that “a lack of proper vaccination among the migrant people” was the reason for the outbreaks.

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To avoid future outbreaks, the researchers advised there should be “increased awareness among physicians who provide care to migrants”, “thorough vaccination protocols” and “timely screening of at-risk individuals”.

They added: “Further monitoring of this situation using molecular typing and genomic approaches will be key to define the source and routes of this resurgence.”

Dr Helena Seth-Smith, from the University of Zurich, and Dr Sylvain Brisse, from the Institut Pasteur in Paris, led the research, and worked with scientists across Europe.

The report has been peer-reviewed, but has not yet been submitted to a medical journal, and the data was published by ESCMID.

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