Five Dead and 129 Infected After Eating 'Salmonella' Melons in Canada...

'Malichita' and 'Rudy' Brand Cantaloupe Melons
Three People Also Died Last Month in the US After Eating the Same Melons

Following the United States, there have been deaths from food poisoning caused by consuming Salmonella-contaminated Mexican cantaloupe melons in Canada as well.

According to CBC on the 8th (local time), the Public Health Agency of Canada reported that 129 people across six provinces were infected with Salmonella after consuming cantaloupe melons distributed nationwide, and among them, five have died.

The problematic melons were distributed under the brands 'Malichita' or 'Rudy.' Malichita brand melons were distributed from October 11 to November 14, and Rudy brand melons from October 10 to November 24. These brands are currently undergoing recalls.

Cantaloupe melons are one of the representative melon varieties cultivated worldwide, characterized by their orange flesh.

Cantaloupe Melon
[Photo by AP Yonhap News]

A health agency official explained, "Most patients are elderly residents in long-term care facilities and young children in childcare centers," adding, "This is a more severe pattern than typical Salmonella infections."

In particular, Quebec reported 91 Salmonella infection cases, an increase of 56 from 35 cases last week. The health agency also reported 17 cases in Ontario and 15 cases in British Columbia.

Salmonella bacteria are mainly found in undercooked chicken but can also be detected in fresh fruits and vegetables. Infection symptoms typically include abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and headaches. Most patients recover within four days to a week, but infants, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals may experience severe symptoms.

A Canadian infectious disease expert stated, "Judging by the outbreak status, it clearly shows an epidemic pattern," and added, "The reported number of patients is just the tip of the iceberg; the actual number is likely much higher when including mild cases."

The health agency is tracing the initial outbreak location and transmission routes to identify the infection source. They are also closely cooperating with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to determine the cause, considering the large-scale outbreak in the United States.

Last month in the United States, 230 people were infected with Salmonella after consuming Mexican cantaloupe melons, with three deaths reported.

Meanwhile, on the 27th of last month, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety explained that no Mexican melons have been imported into the country under the Plant Protection Act. An official stated, "There have been no import records of Mexican melons in the past three years," adding, "Only melons from the United States, Japan, and New Zealand are imported into the country."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.