Two people have died from listeria infections in Australia after probably eating contaminated smoked salmon, officials say.
A third person also contracted the illness – known as listeriosis – but survived. The three cases happened in different states. Local media reports the contamination is believed to originate in Tasmania, which produces most Australian salmon. Health officials warned people most at risk to avoid certain foods.
The people who died were both aged above 70 and had underlying health conditions, said Australia’s chief medical officer Prof Brendan Murphy.
The Tasmanian government said the state’s salmon producers had been cleared of food safety breaches following the listeria cases in Victoria.
