The salmonellosis outbreak linked to contaminated melons that has been raging in Canada for more than a month has now claimed five lives.

• Also read: Salmonellosis: A second variety of melon to throw away, first death in Canada

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) updated its outbreak alert on its website Thursday, noting that melons have been linked to 44 hospitalizations and five deaths since the outbreak began.

When it last updated in November, PHAC counted 17 hospitalizations and just one death.

Quebec champion of salmonellosis

A total of 129 cases of salmonellosis have been laboratory confirmed from coast to coast in six provinces.

Quebec accounts for more than 70% of patients with 91 cases, with the others in British Columbia (15), Ontario (17), Prince Edward Island (2), New Brunswick (2) and Newfoundland and Labrador (2).

Of note, the vast majority of patients were either children aged 5 years and younger (35%) or seniors aged 65 years and older (45%).

Children and the elderly are among the populations most commonly affected by complications from salmonellosis, a disease that also affects pregnant women and immunocompromised people more severely.

Health authorities have been warning against consuming Malichita brand melons since the end of October. At the end of November, Rudy brand cantaloupes were included in the recall notices.

The USA is also struggling with infected melons. South of the border, melons have been linked to 96 hospitalizations and three deaths, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday.

In most people, salmonellosis causes symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.

Keep in mind that it is impossible to identify foods contaminated with salmonella bacteria because they do not emit a suspicious odor and show no visible decay.