The number of deaths as a result of the listeria outbreak connected to contaminated rockmelons has risen to six with a NSW women dying from listeria linked to rockmelon.
The woman was in her 90s, and last week a fifth person, a Victorian man in his 80s, died and a woman had miscarried as a result of the deadly outbreak, which has been traced to a rockmelon farm in southern NSW.
Nineteen people have been infected overall, and ABC Rural reported that Rombola Family Farms from Nericon, near Griffith in NSW is the source.
NSW authorities have withdrawn the affected melons from sale and distribution, so rockmelons on the shelf are now safe to eat.
However, symptoms can take between eight and 90 days to appear, so it is possible more people will be diagnosed with the listeria infection.
Cases have been reported in Queensland, New South Wales and Tasmania.
Listeria infection is particularly dangerous for pregnant women, their unborn babies, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems.
It starts with flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, muscle aches, nausea and sometimes diarrhoea.
