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Infectious diseases such as super-gonorrhoea could spread more rapidly if the UK leaves the European Union, health chiefs have warned.

Britain is said to be under “significant threat” from such diseases after Brexit if the government doesn’t work out a way of maintaining a close working relationship with European health bodies.

The UK’s proximity to mainland Europe and high levels of cross-border travel on the continent mean that without a closely joined up approach the results could be disastrous.

Niall Dickson, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, told the Standard: “At the moment our strongest concern is the huge level of uncertainty. We are just not clear where this is all going to land.

“The only positive is that we can say this is not only about UK patients, it is about European patients who would be affected as well.

Thousands of anti-Brexit activists march to Parliament in protest 12 show all Thousands of anti-Brexit activists march to Parliament in protest 1/12 Demonstrators head towards Parliament Square. REUTERS 2/12 Signs include 'I love EU' REUTERS 3/12 The pro-EU march began in Hyde Park Corner. Si Carrington 4/12 'NHS? Brexit Wrexit' Oliver Day 5/12 The march took protesters through the streets of London. Oliver Day 6/12 One protester brought along a papier mache Queen, in reference to the blue and yellow hat she wore at the State Opening of Parliament. Peter Bailey 7/12 'Exit Brexit' Jonathan Hawley 8/12 The September sun shone as activists marched through the streets. Martin Tod 9/12 Roads were blocked during the protest. Maggie Jones 10/12 The campaigners set off shortly after 11am from Hyde Park Corner. Maggie Jones 11/12 The rally saw the activists march through the streets of central London. Johann Ketel 12/12 EU colours of blue and yellow were seen throughout the march. Judi Conner 1/12 Demonstrators head towards Parliament Square. REUTERS 2/12 Signs include 'I love EU' REUTERS 3/12 The pro-EU march began in Hyde Park Corner. Si Carrington 4/12 'NHS? Brexit Wrexit' Oliver Day 5/12 The march took protesters through the streets of London. Oliver Day 6/12 One protester brought along a papier mache Queen, in reference to the blue and yellow hat she wore at the State Opening of Parliament. Peter Bailey 7/12 'Exit Brexit' Jonathan Hawley 8/12 The September sun shone as activists marched through the streets. Martin Tod 9/12 Roads were blocked during the protest. Maggie Jones 10/12 The campaigners set off shortly after 11am from Hyde Park Corner. Maggie Jones 11/12 The rally saw the activists march through the streets of central London. Johann Ketel 12/12 EU colours of blue and yellow were seen throughout the march. Judi Conner

“It is in everyone’s interest to maximise cooperation. Diseases do not recognise borders.

“We need to put political interests behind the interests of patients in the EU and UK.”

Tracking outbreaks requires collaboration between the UK and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

A recent highly publicised case was of a man who contracted the world’s worst super-gonorrhoea and brought it back to the UK.

Public Health England worked alongside the ECDC and the World Health Organisation to effectively track the infection.

Meanwhile outbreaks of measles in England and Wales have repeatedly been linked to those in countries in eastern Europe while, in 2017, a multi-country outbreak of salmonella was linked to Polish eggs.

Mr Dickson, who is also co-chairman of the Brexit Health Alliance, said unless the UK can negotiate continued access to ECDC systems after Brexit, there are likely to be delays in communication in cases during which time an outbreak could get out of control.

He added: “We should be under no illusion – if we fail to reach a good agreement on the EU and UK’s future relationship, that could be a significant threat to public health. This cannot and should not be ignored.

“It should be blindingly obvious to all concerned that that it is in all our interests to maintain these vital links.”