No fewer than five people have died in a salmonella outbreak linked to Malichita and Rudy brand cantaloupes being sold in six provinces.
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, 129 people have been confirmed with salmonella connected to the outbreak, almost double the number that was revealed at the last update on Dec. 1, when a single death was recorded.
The agency did not give details on the deaths in its latest update but cases have risen in Quebec, with 91 confirmed infections against 35 last week.
Also, there are 17 cases in Ontario, 15 in British Columbia, and two each in New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador.
The agency says 45 percent of those who fell sick were aged 65 and older while over a third were children five and younger.
It says people became sick between mid-October and mid-November, and 44 have been hospitalized. Also, other salmonella infections are being investigated.
The update said: “People who are infected with salmonella bacteria can spread salmonella to other people several days to several weeks after they have become infected, even if they don’t have symptoms.”
Consumers have been warned not to buy, eat or sell Malichita or Rudy brand cantaloupe. The agency says any brands of the fruit that cannot be verified should be thrown out.
Recall that the agency issued food recall warnings three times in November for Malichita cantaloupes that were sold between Oct. 11 and Nov. 14.
On November 24, the agency updated its warning to include Rudy brand cantaloupes sold between October 10 and November 24.
