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Diseases: Undocumented Migrants

Asked by Lee AndersonReform UKDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 21 July 2025UIN 67468

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her Department has made of the potential risk of infectious diseases from immigrants who arrive illegally on boats.

Answered by Ashley Dalton

The UK Health Security Agency routinely monitors infectious disease risk across England and manages any public health action required following notification of infectious diseases.

The Migrant Health Guide recommends that all new arrivals to the United Kingdom, including people seeking asylum, should have access to an initial health assessment, which includes infectious disease screening and routine vaccine catch-up. The guide is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/migrant-health-guide

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