Melons contaminated with the deadly listeriosis bacteria were exported to at least nine countries from Australia, where an outbreak has killed six people and caused one miscarriage, the World Health Organisation says.
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 on Monday said.
Between January 17 and April 6, Australia reported 19 confirmed and one probable case of listeriosis, all of whom were hospitalised. Six died.
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.
The Australian melon producer, which the WHO did not name but named locally as Rombola Family Farms, recalled the fruit on February 27.
