An asylum seeker's death at the Manston processing centre may have been the result of diphtheria infection, the Home Office has said.

Initial tests at hospital came back negative for the disease but a follow-up PCR was positive.

The result indicates that "diphtheria may be the cause of the illness" which led to the man's death on November 19, a statement said.

It is believed the man arrived in Kent by small boat a week earlier.

A government spokesman said: "Our thoughts remain with the family of the man who has died and all those affected by this loss.

"Initial test results processed by a local hospital for an infectious disease were negative, but a follow-up PCR test was positive, indicating that diphtheria may be the cause of the illness. The Coroner will conclude in due course.

"We take the safety and welfare of those in our care extremely seriously and are taking all of the necessary steps following these results.

'Our thoughts remain with the family of the man who has died...'

"We are offering diphtheria vaccinations to people at Manston, which has 24/7 health facilities and trained medical staff."

A post-mortem examination and a coroner’s investigation are ongoing.

Diphtheria is a highly contagious infection affecting the nose, throat and sometimes skin.

The NHS says it is rare in the UK and can be treated through antibiotics and other medicines.

The Home Office initially said there was “no evidence at this stage to suggest that this tragic death was caused by an infectious disease”, with the man being taken ill a day before dying.

At one point as many as 4,000 people were being held at Manston, a site designed to hold just 1,600.

The Home Office has not said whether it is taking steps to limit the spread of diphtheria elsewhere, with migrants having been moved from Manston to hotels around the country.