Asylum seekers moved off Bibby Stockholm barge after Legionella bacteria found
Legionella bacteria, which can cause a serious type of lung infection known as Legionnaires' disease, has been found in the water on the barge.
Asylum seekers are being removed from the Bibby Stockholm barge in Dorset after Legionella bacteria was found in the vessel's water system.
On Wednesday, Mr Jenrick described the barge as "perfectly decent accommodation" that was similar to that used by British oil and gas workers - despite earlier warnings from the Fire Brigades Union that the vessel was a "death trap".
But speaking to Sky News, Dr Bharat Pankhania, senior clinical lecturer at the University of Exeter, disputed Mr Jenrick's comparison.
Asked how common it was for the bacteria to be present, Dr Pankhania said: "They should not be present in a place like that and when Robert Jenrick says we house oil workers on similar barges, he is definitely not comparing like with like.
"When you accommodate oil workers...there wouldn't be 500. And when you have a large number of people accommodated you need better plumbing systems so the water temperature is maintained at the right temperature."
Dr Pankhania said the disease would most likely have spread through the showers used on the vessel.
https://news.sky.com/story/asylum-seeke ... d-12937904