Rockmelon listeria: Death toll rises as more cases emerge

More cases of listeria linked to contaminated rockmelon have been confirmed with the death toll rising to four people.

A file image of a rockmelon on a kitchen bench in Sydney.

Niall Blair says NSW Labor's calls for an investigation into a fatal listeria outbreak is insulting. (AAP)

The deaths of more people have been linked to a listeria outbreak involving rockmelons, bringing the toll to four.

Two more people have been diagnosed with listeria traced to contaminated rockmelons grown in NSW.

A Victorian man and a Queensland woman are the latest victims of the outbreak which has now affected 17 people across Australia.

Four people have died from the outbreak, two from Victoria and two from New South Wales.

Victoria's Deputy Chief Health Officer Dr Sutton confirmed the latest death had been linked to the listeria outbreak.




"This latest case has only just been linked to the outbreak as a result of our microbiological testing," Dr Sutton said.

The latest update means NSW and Victoria have both recorded six cases of listeria, there have been four cases in Queensland and one in Tasmania.

The rockmelon producer in Nericon, near Griffith, voluntarily stopped production after being told of the contamination.

The NSW Food Authority and Premier Gladys Berejiklian's government came under fire following accusations they took weeks to warn the public after beginning investigations in January.

But NSW Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair hit back, telling ABC's Country Hour there had been no delay and everything was done "by the book".

NSW Health previously defended its response, saying it followed established protocols and takes outbreaks "very seriously".

The NSW Food Authority issued a warning on February 28 as soon as an investigation indicated the rockmelon was the likely source, it said.


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