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A fourth person has died and 17 people have been affected by the outbreak of listeria related to the sale of rockmelons in Australia.

The latest victim, from Victoria, had been diagnosed with listeriosis, and subsequent testing connected them to the strain from the rockmelons in question.

There have been two reported deaths in Victoria, and two in NSW, with the outbreak linked to a farm in southern NSW.

Six of the 17 cases were in Victoria, including three men and three women aged between 60 and 90.

They were residents of Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales and Tasmania.

All affected melons have been withdrawn from sale and distribution, and all states and territories are continuing to work together to investigate.

Rockmelons and watermelons have been linked to previous cases of listeria, including a 2011 outbreak that killed 33 Americans.

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