WHO issues rockmelon warning over shipment

Bahrain is among the nine countries that received shipments of Melons contaminated with deadly listeriosis bacteria, according to World Health Organisation (WHO).

Australia exported rockmelons suspected to be contaminated to at least nine countries including Bahrain, according to WHO. The other countries the melons were exported to were Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (China), Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Singapore, and United Arab Emirates. 

The move follows reports in Australia claiming that several people became ill from listeriosis. Hospitalization occurred in 19 confirmed cases between Jan 17 and April 6. The number of cases could rise as Listeria Monocytogenes bacterium has a long incubation period of up to 90 days.

Confirming that Bahrain received a shipment, WHO said, “Further trace forward investigations on 7 March 2018 identified that Bahrain also received an export of the rockmelons from this grower,” it stated, adding, “The Australian National Focal Point advised the Bahrain National Focal Point directly on 8 March 2018. As of 8 March, trace forward activities have been concluded.”

The melon producer had recalled the produce on Feb 27. “Cases in the affected countries may still be identified. 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 after testing cleared the property,” WHO said.

The milder symptoms of Listeriosis are diarrhoea and fever. High-risk people such as elderly people, pregnant women, patients undergoing treatment for cancer, and HIV are more likely to suffer from the severe form of the disease which can also cause septicemia and meningitis. A 20-30 percent mortality rate was noted in the severe form of the disease.

Earlier this year, South African food producer Tiger Brands was on the receiving end of a class action lawsuit for allegedly causing a listeriosis outbreak in South Africa that killed around 180 people.