Contaminated melons claim fourth victim

SYDNEY: A fourth person has died after consuming melon contaminated with listeria, Australian authorities said yesterday, in an outbreak that has so far affected 17 people. Cases first came to attention last month, with the source traced back to a farm in New South Wales (NSW) state. “There have been two deaths in NSW and two in Victoria,” NSW Health said in an update. Vicky Sheppeard, director of communicable diseases at NSW Health, said all contaminated rockmelons were recalled from the market on Feb 28.