A deadly listeria outbreak has been linked to rockmelons in Australia and Aussies are being urged to avoid the food.
10 people have been diagnosed with listeriosis and two of those people tragically died from their infections.
The NSW Food Authority released the following statement:
“Any affected product is being removed from the supply chain, so consumers can be assured rockmelons currently available on shelves are not implicated in this outbreak,” the NSW Food Authority said.
“All states and territories are working together to investigate the outbreak, and to date, they have identified ten cases in elderly patients in NSW (six), Victoria (one) and Queensland (three) with an onset of illness notification dates between 17 January and 9 February 2018.”
Those most vulnerable to the infection are those with a low immune system, pregnant woman and the elderly.
Listeriosis is an extremely serious and potentially life threatening condition and those who have consumed rockmelon between January 17 and February 9 and are feeling flu-like symptoms paired with diarrhoea are being urged to consult their doctor.
The infection can also cause blood poisoning and even inflammation of the brain.
The outbreak has been linked to a grower in Nericon in the Riverina region of NSW, who have since ceased production and cooperating with officials to figure out how the outbreak started.
