Three people in their 70s have died in Australia after eating melon contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. This food infection also exists in France and is responsible for 300 to 400 cases per year. Rather related to cold meats, in this case it would be related to the consumption of pre-cut melon.
According to New South Wales Health Authority, an outbreak of a potentially serious infection linked to bacteria, Listeria monocytogenes, is rampant across Australia. Fifteen people are said to have been infected by the epidemic, including 10 over the age of 70. This outbreak is linked to a melon producer near the town of Griffith in New South Wales.
Australian consumers who are most vulnerable to Listeria infection should avoid eating rockmelon after a recent spike in listeriosis cases in elderly people has been linked to the fruit #Listeria #Foodborneillness https://t.co/KGErh8u3Z2
– DairyFoodSafetyVic (@_DFSV) February 28, 2018
The 15 people diagnosed and found to be infected had all consumed watermelon, also known as “Rockmelon” (cantaloupe melon), before becoming ill. Melons have been pulled from supermarket shelves across Australia following the outbreak, which began in January. The melons that are currently on the shelves come from other farms now.
Severe infection
The first two deaths were in the state of New South Wales, where the melon grower is located, but the third victim died in the state of Victoria. Cases of listeriosis after consumption of these same melons have been reported in Queensland.
Listeriosis is a serious foodborne infection caused by bacteria: Listeria monocytogenes. This bacteria is most often the cause of minor digestive problems, with diarrhea, in healthy people. However, serious forms can occur, in particular in vulnerable populations (elderly or immunocompromised), and in pregnant women where it represents a threat to the fetus or the baby.
The severe forms consist of a general infection of the blood, sepsis or an infection of the central nervous system. In pregnant women, infection of the uterus can cause miscarriage, premature delivery, or severe infection of the baby (neonatal infection).
The bacteria are common
Listeria monocytogenes, the bacterium responsible for listeriosis, is very widespread in the environment (it is ubiquitous) and resistant in the external environment (soil, lakes, rivers, sewage or berry water, mainly decaying vegetation, etc.).
Due to its ubiquitous nature and resistance, this bacterium has the ability to colonize food manufacturing sites. Thus, many people ingest small amounts of Listeria monocytogenes, without any severe problem appearing apart from digestive disorders, sometimes with diarrhea.
The most common mode of contamination in humans is the consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The bacterium does not alter the taste of food, unlike most other pathogens transmitted through food, this explains the possible repeated ingestion and in large quantities of this bacterium. In this case, it is not recommended to eat pre-cut melon slices and wash the purchased melons.
Listeriosis is rare in France
In France, the disease is rare (incidence of 5 to 6 cases per million inhabitants), but is fatal in 20 to 30% of cases occurring outside pregnancy.
Each year, around 300 to 400 cases of listeriosis are recorded in France. These are cases isolated from each other (“sporadic”), no epidemic has been identified in France since 2003.
In France, the foods most frequently contaminated by this bacterium are cooked meats (tongue, head, rillettes), sausages, chilled sprouted seeds, and fresh milk products (soft cheeses and raw milk).
The bacteria are sensitive to heat, but can multiply at 4 ° C (refrigerator temperature).
Preventive measures
Listeriosis is an infection that can become serious in certain weakened people whose physical condition allows the bacteria to develop more easily: the elderly, those suffering from cancer, blood or liver disease ( cirrhosis …), insulin-dependent diabetics, transplant recipients and those with weakened immune systems (immunosuppressive therapy, autoimmune disease, HIV infection, etc.). They are therefore invited to take care in their diet.
They are recommended to cook foods of animal origin, remove the rind from cheeses, wash vegetables and aromatic herbs thoroughly and cook products purchased ready to eat “catered” thoroughly until they boil.
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