SUELLA BRAVERMAN is facing calls to resign as home secretary after a man who died after being detained at Manston had diphtheria. 

Suspected cases of the infectious disease, which can be fatal in 5 to 10 per cent of cases, have also increased among asylum-seekers moved on from the former RAF base in Kent. 

As of November 10, there were 39 suspected cases of the disease, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). However reports in the Sunday Times claim the number has now risen to 70. 

Officials fear that regional health chiefs are not being informed before asylum-seekers are moved into their areas, with no record of whether they have been screened, infected, exposed, or are being treated.

The Home Office said on Saturday that the death of a man at Manston could have potentially been caused by the disease after a test came back positive for diphtheria. 

Transport Secretary Mark Harper claimed today that the infections had been contracted before the asylum-seekers arrived in Britain. 

Health officials believe the timings of testing and the onset of symptoms indicates all cases were caught abroad, but they could not rule out transmission in migrant centres.

Concerns had been raised about poor management of infectious diseases at Manston by prison inspectors earlier this month following a visit in July. 

A report by the chief inspector of prisons from an inspection carried out in July said infected detainees “were placed in a claustrophobic portacabin with no clear responsibility assigned for managing their care.”

The Home Secretary has come under fire over extreme overcrowding and inhumane conditions at the Manston facility, leading to the site being emptied of asylum-seekers last week. 

Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: “The Conservative government should be ashamed of their callous complacency over the health and wellbeing of asylum-seekers coming out of Manston.

“This is more than an outrage. This is a scandal. Suella Braverman must take responsibility and resign immediately.”

Care4Calais founder Clare Moseley said: “Decisions by the Home Secretary created the inhumane conditions that led to the outbreak of diphtheria at Manston and with evidence now pointing to a life being lost from the disease there needs to be some accountability for those decisions.”

Refugee Council CEO Enver Solomon said: “We will wait for the coroner’s report to confirm the cause of this tragic death.

“It remains deeply concerning that people seeking safety were ever subjected to the appalling, inhumane conditions at Manston, where they were clearly not given adequate support and attention.

“The outbreak and spreading of diphtheria, a potentially deadly virus, was entirely avoidable had the right preventative measures been put in place. It should never have been allowed to happen.”

Local councillors were told at a meeting on Thursday by the Home Office that the site will likely be used again, according to local press.