An elderly NSW woman has become the sixth Australian to die in the current rockmelon-related listeria outbreak.
The woman in her 90s had significant underlying health conditions, NSW Health said in a statement on Tuesday.
Three Victorians and three people from NSW have now died as a result of the outbreak which was first revealed in February.
Nineteen people have been infected including the six who subsequently died.
All affected melons, from the NSW Riverina, have been withdrawn from sale.
A rockmelon grower at Nericon, in the NSW Riverina, has since been identified as the source of suspect fruit.
The producer agreed to stop distribution after being told about the contamination.
But the NSW government and health authorities were accused of taking too long to warn the public after investigations began in January.
Listeria begins with flu-like symptoms including fever, chills, muscle aches, nausea and diarrhoea, which can take days or weeks to appear following the consumption of contaminated produce.
