AU: Six people have died in national outbreak of listeria linked to rockmelon

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.theage.com.au/national/n...28-p4z26u.html

Two people have died in national outbreak of listeria linked to rockmelon supplier
By Aisha Dow & Rachel Clun
Updated1 March 2018 ? 6:28amfirst published 28 February 2018 ? 5:24pm


A Listeria outbreak caused by rockmelons from one regional farm has killed two people and affected 10 others across the country.

NSW, Victorian and Queensland authorities have linked the outbreak to a rockmelon grower in Nericon, near Griffith in NSW.

So far six cases have been identified in NSW, one in Victoria and three in Queensland, with the elderly victims falling sick between January 17 and February 9...

[Shiloh]

Source: https://au.news.yahoo.com/vic/a/3942...elon-outbreak/


Fourth person dies from rockmelon listeria outbreak
Yahoo and Agencies / 12:03pm AEDT

Another Victorian resident has died from listeria, taking Australia's rockmelon-related death count to four.

A total of 17 listeria cases were confirmed across Australia, with two deaths each in Victoria and NSW following the outbreak linked to a rockmelon producer at Nericon, in the NSW Riverina.

While listeria is common in the environment and rarely causes serious illness, health authorities said the elderly, pregnant or those with suppressed immune systems were particularly vulnerable...

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/201..._137043042.htm

Aussie death toll from bacterial outbreak linked to rockmelons rises to 5
Source: Xinhua 2018-03-16 10:12:49

SYDNEY, March 16 (Xinhua) -- A man in his 80s has become the third person in Australia's Victoria state to die from a listeria bacterial outbreak, bringing the latest death toll linked to contaminated rockmelons in the country to five, health authorities said on Friday.

The latest case was linked to the outbreak following test results, the state's Deputy Chief Health Officer Dr Brett Sutton said in a statement.

"And sadly, the investigation has also confirmed that a miscarriage has also been linked to the outbreak."

Eight people in Victoria, four men and four women, are known to have been affected by the outbreak and all of them had consumed rockmelons before a national recall of the affected fruit produced by Rombola Family Farms near the Griffith area in the southwestern part of New South Wales state, said Sutton...

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.9news.com.au/national/20...tbreak-reports

NSW woman becomes sixth person to die from listeria outbreak
4:31pm Mar 20, 2018

An elderly NSW woman has become the sixth person to die as a result of a listeria outbreak linked to contaminated rockmelons.

NSW Health confirmed the death of the NSW woman aged in her 90s, however said she had developed listeriosis before the outbreak was identified.

?There have been no new cases notified associated with the outbreak given the incubation period for the disease is up to 70 days, however there is no ongoing risk of listeriosis from rockmelons now on sale,? Dr Vicky Sheppeard, Director Communicable Diseases NSW Health, said in a statement...

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.who.int/csr/don/09-april-...-australia/en/
Listeriosis ? Australia

Disease outbreak news
9 April 2018

On 2 March 2018, the Australian National Focal Point (NFP) notified WHO of an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infection (listeriosis) associated with the consumption of rockmelons (cantaloupe) from a single grower.
From 17 January 2018 through to 6 April 2018, 20 outbreak cases (19 confirmed and 1 probable) of listeriosis were reported. All of the cases were hospitalized and there have been seven deaths and one miscarriage associated with the outbreak. All of the outbreak cases have had illness onset since 17 January 2018.
Public health response

Epidemiological investigations suggested that the source of the outbreak was rockmelon (cantaloupe melons) from a single grower in Australia. Epidemiological and environmental investigations were undertaken, which led to the recall of rockmelons produced by the single grower on 27 February 2018.
On 1 March 2018, the Australian NFP was notified that international distribution of the affected product had occurred. Australian authorities received information from trace forward investigations on 2 March 2018 that the rockmelons from this grower were exported to eight countries; Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (China), Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Singapore, and United Arab Emirates. The Australian NFP directly advised these countries on 3 March 2018 about the export of rockmelons from Australia to their country. In parallel, a notification via the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) was also sent on 3 March 2018.
Further trace forward investigations on 7 March 2018 identified that Bahrain also received an export of the rockmelons from this grower and on 8 March 2018, investigations further identified that the affected rockmelons may have been included in a consignment to the Seychelles. The Australian NFP advised the Bahrain NFP directly on 8 March 2018 and the Seychelles NFP directly on 9 March 2018. As of 8 March, trace forward activities have been concluded.
The INFOSAN emergency contact points in the importing countries were provided with specific distribution details of the rockmelons to their respective countries by the INFOSAN emergency contact point in Australia, as they became available.
On 4 April 2018, it was reported that more than 30 samples of melons from the grower through the supply chain, including retail and on farm, tested positive to Listeria monocytogenes. Additional testing found L. monocytogenes in the packing area. All L. monocytogenes samples had the same genetic sequence as the human cases. 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 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.
WHO risk assessment

The prompt epidemiological and environmental investigation carried out led to the identification of the outbreak source and enabled the issuing of a recall. Due to the potentially long incubation period of L. monocytogenes, further outbreak cases may be reported.
Import details have been provided though INFOSAN to the affected countries to enable them to take appropriate management measures including local recalls and risk communication. Cases in the affected countries may still be identified.
WHO advice

Pregnant women, the elderly and immunocompromised individuals should take precautions to avoid infection by Listeria by avoiding the consumption of high risk foods including dairy products made of unpasteurized milk, soft cheeses, deli meat products (ready-to eat meat cuts, p?t?, etc.); ice creams, raw seafood, crustaceans, and shellfish. These are the most common foods associated with Listeria infection. In recent years, melon, and other fruits and vegetables have been implicated on rare occasions in outbreaks of listeriosis. To reduce the risk, it is important to thoroughly wash all fruits and vegetables.
It is recommended that risk communication messages regarding listeriosis be targeted to at-risk groups, primarily pregnant women, older persons and people with weakened immune systems, for example people with cancer, HIV, diabetes, kidney or liver disease or those taking immunosuppressive medications. These messages should recommend avoiding the consumption of high-risk foods