Fifth person dies from deadly listeria rockmelon outbreak

The deadly listeria outbreak linked to contaminated rockmelons has claimed another life.

Victoria’s Deputy Chief Health Officer Dr Brett Sutton has confirmed a third Victorian has died from the national outbreak of listeriosis. A pregnant woman has also suffered a miscarriage linked to the fruit. 

This takes to eight the number of Victorians known to be affected by this outbreak.

“This latest case – the death of a man in his 80s – has only just been linked to the outbreak as a result of our microbiological testing,” Dr Sutton said. “And sadly, the investigation has also confirmed that a miscarriage has also been linked to the outbreak.”

There are now 18 confirmed cases of listeria in the country, with that number expected to rise. At present, Vitoria has eight cases and New South Wales has six cases. Two people also died in New South Wales as a result of eating the contaminated fruit. A further four cases have been confirmed in Queensland, while one person in Tasmania is also infected.

Listeria is a life-threatening illness for certain people, particularly those over the age of 60. Those who are over 70, have diabetes, cancer or even suppressed immune systems are most at risk. The majority of the people who have been infected across Australia are aged between 60 and 90. Most people who have become infected ate rockmelon between January 17 and February 9.

A fifth person has died after eating rockmelon contaminated with listeria. The death of the man in his 80s from VIC is the third in that state, linked ta farm near Griffith. A miscarriage in VIC has also been linked to the fruit. @973ABCIllawarra

— Chloe Hart (@chloehart2) March 15, 2018

In many cases, listeria is present in natural products without causing any harm. However, it is particularly difficult to diagnose as symptoms present at different times.

Victims typically show flu-like symptoms including a fever, chills, muscle aches, nausea and diarrhoea. Some people show symptoms immediately, while others can take more than six weeks to appear after eating food at risk. The NSW Food Authority last week warned anyone showing symptoms to seek medical help immediately.

Rockmelons were removed from shelves on February 28, although it is feared that more people have been infected, given it can take weeks for some people to start showing signs. It is believed that as many as a third of all people to contract listeriosis die each year in Australia.

Earlier this week, The New South Wales Food Authority named the farm at the centre of the deadly rockmelon-linked listeria outbreak. The authority confirmed that the outbreak began at Rombola Family Farms in Nericon in south-western NSW and that it was working closely with Rombola Family Farms to support the business and other growers as part of the wider rockmelon industry as it works to recover from the devastating impact of the outbreak.

The authority had previously declined to name the grower, but calls from within the struggling industry urged the specific farm to be named and for the cause of the outbreak to be identified to others weren’t unnecessarily shunned by shoppers. While the exact cause hasn’t yet been determined, the food safety body is working closely with the farm to get to the bottom of the case.

“The NSW Food Authority implements regulatory programs across a range of primary production sectors, in light of this incident, pending the outcome of its investigation there may be additional regulatory actions or oversight applied to the rockmelon industry to drive compliance and see improved food safety outcomes,” the authority said in a statement.

Read more: Death toll from deadly rockmelon listeria continues to grow

It said that it was also working with the Australian Melon Association to support its members, following a decline in sales since news of the outbreak was made public earlier this month.

“Throughout the incident the Food Authority worked with the Australian Melon Association to support its members, providing a written letter to the association, that they have made available to their members to share with buyers, advising of its confidence all affected product has been removed from the supply chain, and that rockmelons currently available for sale or export are not implicated in this outbreak,” the statement read.

While fruit that is currently available in stores has been tested and is safe, many retailers have opted not to stock rockmelon. Authorities have assured shoppers that fruit currently on the market is safe to eat and that most people who have become infected ate rockmelon between January 17 and February 9.

Starts at 60 has contacted the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services for comment. 

Have you been eating rockmelon since the news broke?