Listeriosis bacteria infested melons from Australia have been exported to at least nine countries, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). 

WHO announced this week that the rockmelons, which are also known as cantaloupes, were exported to Kuwait, Malaysia, Japan, Hong Kong, Oman, Singapore, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. In addition, WHO said that it may have also been exported to Seychelles. 

WHO said that Listeria bacterium has a long incubation period up to 90 days and that “cases in the affected countries may still be identified”. 

Listeria can also grow under refrigeration, even if it may be a slow process.  

“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 WHO added. 

The listeriosis bacteria outbreak has killed six people and caused one miscarriage in Australia this year. 

Lydia Buchtmann from the Food Safety Information Council said that listeriosis was especially dangerous for pregnant women, unborn babies, elderly people, and people with low immune systems. 

“That includes people with diabetes, people recovering from cancer, organ transplant recipients and people on medications like cortisone,” Ms Buchtmann said. 

“For most of us, it’s not really an issue. You might have mild fever, feel a bit fluey, or have an upset stomach,” she added.