A sixth death linked to an outbreak of listeria being connected to pre-packaged hospital sandwiches and salads has been confirmed by Public Health England.
It was revealed in June that a total of nine cases were being investigated - of which five proved to be fatal.
Two of the deaths were at Manchester Royal Infirmary .
Retired nurse Beverley Sowah, who was 57 and lived in Stretford , died on April 26 and 84-year-old Enid Heap, from Beswick , died there on May 6.
The latest death - now the sixth - was one of the nine previously confirmed cases, Public Heath England (PHE) said today.
No sex or age of the person has been revealed.
But PHE said the individual is believed to have 'acquired listeriosis from Good Food Chain products' while at Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
The food supplier, based in Staffordshire, has gone into liquidation.
In a statement on Thursday, Public Heath England said: "The multi-agency team investigating cases of listeriosis linked to sandwiches and salads can confirm that, since the last update, there has been another death linked to this outbreak.
"The total number of deaths linked to this outbreak is six.
The individual who sadly died was one of the nine previously confirmed cases.
"The individual is considered to have acquired listeriosis from Good Food Chain products while at Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
"Public Health England continues to test all samples of listeria on an ongoing basis to check if they are linked to this outbreak.
"To date, we have tested 34 samples and none are linked to the outbreak.
"There have been no new cases of listeriosis linked to this outbreak. Our investigations continue and the public should be reassured that the risk continues to be low."
The six are all suspected to have died after eating pre-packed sandwiches or salads.
The Good Food Chain, which supplied 43 NHS trusts across the UK as well as one independent provider, voluntarily ceased production and PHE said the investigation into the outbreak was continuing.
The business was supplied with meat produced by Salford -based North Country Cooked Meats.
The M.E.N. reported in June the firm tested positive for listeria twice before.
Traces of listeria were found in 2009 and 2010, but the council said 'the company acted promptly to deal with it satisfactorily'.
North Country Cooked Meats has now ceased production and closed voluntarily.
Listeria infection is rare and usually causes a mild illness in healthy people.
However, it can have more serious consequences among those with pre-existing medical conditions, pregnant women and those with a weak immune system.
PHE insisted the health risk to the public remains low and said people should only seek medical attention if they develop symptoms.
