The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has issued a warning against consumption of sweet melons originating from Australia, according to Gulf Times.

The warning was put out following fears of the fruits being contaminated by listeria bacteria.

The MoPH said it received a notification to this effect from an international agency and after following up, had found that a limited quantity of the suspected fruit had been distributed at some outlets on Thursday, according to The Peninsula. The fruit has since been withdrawn from the shelves of all major outlets.

The ministry said that people who have bought the fruit should return it to at the earliest the outlet from which it had been purchased, according to Qatar Tribune.

It also urged people who have consumed the fruit to look out for symptoms such as nausea, fever and gastrointestinal disorder in three to five days. If such symptoms appear, people should visit their nearest health centre.

According to reports, three people have died in Australia after eating melon contaminated with the listeria bacteria.

BBC had reported that 15 elderly people have been infected in the outbreak, which is being linked to a melon-grower in the state of New South Wales.