Following the discovery of Legionella in the water, asylum seekers were removed from the Bibby Stockholm barge in Dorset mere days after their arrival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Home Office announced on Friday that all 39 people on board will be relocated after environmental samples found levels of legionella bacteria in the barge’s water system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The samples “require further investigation,” according to the Home Office, and all passengers were disembarked as a “precautionary measure” on the advice of health experts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Legionnaires’ disease, a deadly type of lung infection, can be caused by Legionella bacteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick is reportedly presiding over crisis sessions. No one on board is showing symptoms of the sickness. It is not contagious from person to person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Legionella detection only relates to the water system onboard the vessel itself, the Home Office said, and is not a risk to the wider community of Portland or related to fresh water entering the vessel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A Home Office spokesperson said: \u201cThe health and welfare of individuals on the vessel is our utmost priority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEnvironmental samples from the water system on the Bibby Stockholm have shown levels of legionella bacteria which require further investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFollowing these results, the Home Office has been working closely with UKHSA and following its advice in line with long-established public health processes, and ensuring all protocol from Dorset Council\u2019s Environmental Health team and Dorset NHS is adhered to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs a precautionary measure, all 39 asylum seekers who arrived on the vessel this week are being disembarked while further assessments are undertaken.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following a series of delays, fifteen individuals were transferred onto the vessel stationed in Portland Port, which has a capacity of 500. Around 50 people were slated to join, but a series of legal challenges resulted in a last-minute respite for around 20.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Following the discovery of Legionella in the water, asylum seekers were removed from the Bibby Stockholm barge in Dorset mere days after their arrival. The Home Office announced on Friday … <\/p>\n