Fears for overseas consumers as it is revealed rockmelons infected with listeria were exported to nine countries after killing seven people in Australia
- Contaminated rockmelons were sent to nine countries from Australia, WHO says
- From January 17 to April 6, Australia reported 19 confirmed cases of listeriosis
- All 19 people were hospitalised and seven died from the bacteria, WHO says
- Melons were sent to Hong Kong, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar
- They were also exported to Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain
Melons contaminated with deadly listeriosis bacteria were exported to at least nine countries from Australia, where an outbreak has killed seven people and caused one miscarriage, the World Health Organization said on Monday.
The rockmelons, or cantaloupes, were sent to Hong Kong, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, and may also have gone to the Seychelles, a WHO statement said.
Between January 17 and April 6, Australia reported 19 confirmed and one probable case of listeriosis, all of whom were hospitalised. Seven died.
Rockmelons contaminated with listeriosis bacteria were exported from Australia to at least nine countries, the World Health Organization said on Monday (stock image)
The Listeria monocytogenes bacterium has a potentially long incubation period, usually one or two weeks but possibly up to 90 days, so more cases may be reported, the WHO said.
'Cases in the affected countries may still be identified,' it said.
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The Australian melon producer, which the WHO did not name, recalled the fruit on Feb. 27.
On March 2, Australian authorities discovered the firm's melons had been exported, and they sent detailed notifications through the International Food Safety Authorities Network to the countries concerned.
'It is believed that the cause of the outbreak was a combination of environmental conditions and weather contaminating the surface of the fruit, with low levels of the bacteria persisting after the washing process,' the WHO said.
'The grower continues to work closely with the relevant authorities and has returned to supply rockmelons (during the week starting 2 April) after testing cleared the property.'
Rombola Family Farms (pictured), in the New South Wales Riverina, started selling fruit again last week after it was linked to the food poisoning deaths of six people
Listeriosis can come in a mild form that causes diarrhoea and fever in healthy people within a few days.
But it also has a severe form that can cause septicemia and meningitis among more high-risk people, such as pregnant women, infants, old people, and people having treatment for cancer, AIDS or organ transplants.
The severe form has a 20-30 percent mortality rate.
As well as unwashed fruit, high risk foods include dairy products made of unpasteurized milk, soft cheeses, deli meat products, ice creams, raw seafood, crustaceans and shellfish.
A separate listeriosis outbreak in South Africa killed at least 180 people earlier this year, sparking a class-action lawsuit against South African food producer Tiger Brands.
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