A Victorian man in his 80s has become the fifth person to die in a listeria outbreak after eating contaminated rockmelons.
Three Victorians and two people from New South Wales have died after consuming fruit linked to a farm in southern NSW.
Victoria's deputy chief health officer, Dr Brett Sutton, said the latest death had only just been linked to the outbreak after test results came back.
"Sadly, the investigation has also confirmed that a miscarriage has also been linked to the outbreak," Dr Sutton added.
Victoria's health department would not provide further details about the victim, including the date of his death.
Eight people in Victoria have been affected with listeria from the melons — four men and four women, all from high-risk groups.
Cases have also been reported in Queensland, New South Wales and Tasmania.
Warning for pregnant women, elderly
Listeria infection is particularly dangerous for pregnant women, their unborn babies, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems.
It starts with flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, muscle aches, nausea, and sometimes diarrhoea.
Symptoms of infection in pregnant women may be mild and include a temperature before or during birth.
The outbreak has been traced to Rombola Family Farms near Griffith.
In a statement on Thursday, the business said it was working with the NSW Food Authority to "identify, quarantine and remedy" the source of the listeria.
"As a family business we are all too aware of the impact the outbreak is having on fellow growers and the wider industry," the statement said.
"We remain ever vigilant to food safety and contamination risks and are focused on working to achieve a resolution for all stakeholders."
All affected melons, also known as cantaloupes, have been withdrawn from sale and distribution.
The NSW Food Authority said rockmelons currently on the shelf are safe to eat.
The authority is also considering imposing additional regulation on the rockmelon industry to ensure compliance with food safety.
Farmers have described the outbreak as a national disaster that will take the industry years to recover from.
