Deadliest legionella strain found onboard migrant barge Bibby Stockholm

08 September 2023 , 23:05

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The Bibby Stockholm Barge, in Portland Port, Dorset (Image: Getty Images)

The deadliest legionella strain was found onboard the Bibby Stockholm migrant barge.

The boat was the Home Office’s latest desperate attempt to deal with the costs of accommodating asylum seekers, and had been docked in Portland Port, Dorset, earlier in the summer. However, after being in use for just four days, the discovery of a legionella outbreak last month led to all of the migrants on board, 39 people, being removed.

Officials said no one had fallen sick or developed Legionnaires' disease, which is a potentially deadly type of pneumonia. The emergency evacuation came just days after Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick dismissed health and safety concerns as he insisted the barge was "perfectly decent accommodation".

There were 39 asylum seekers moved aboard the barge, before being taken off due to the outbreak (PA)

However, now it has emerged that the most dangerous type of legionella, Legionella pneumophila Serogroup 1 – was found on board, The Guardian reported. This is the most dangerous form of the disease and responsible for the majority of infections. Tests confirmed it was present in a galley pot-wash hose outlet in tests conducted at 3.28pm on 15 August.

An inspection of the barge’s pipework found that it needed repairs, and further water samples were taken on August 24, with the results said to be expected shortly This came after 39 asylum seekers were evacuated from the Bibby Stockholm in fear of a deadly outbreak of legionnaires’ disease.

Woman who fled dangerous Iran watched 16 people drown in dinghy disaster

Some were left so terrified of the disease that they would rather mutiny than go back aboard and one was so terrified of returning that he attempted suicide. One of the group told how they cared for the man themselves, keeping the incident quiet for fear it could affect his future in the UK. Now, after taking legal advice, they are vowing to band together to resist going back to the barge.

The man, from a Middle Eastern country with an appalling human rights record, said: “All 39 have decided to unite and refuse to board. We know if they want to they can force us to go back on, but this is our only hope to pressure the Home Office into listening to us. The main reason my friend tried to take his own life was the prospect of going back to the boat.”

Kieren Williams