OTTAWA, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- The number of deaths from a listeriosis outbreak that has been linked to contaminated meat products has reached 20, Canadian health officials said Wednesday.

    The latest death occurred in Ontario, where 15 of the deaths have been reported, the Public Health Agency of Canada said in a news release.

    Two deaths occurred in the western province of British Columbia with one each in Alberta, Quebec and New Brunswick.

    The health agency said six other deaths under investigation may also result from the outbreak.

    The disease originated from the Toronto deli-meat processing branch of Maple Leaf Foods plant, Canada's biggest food company. The Listeria bacterium was found deep inside slicing equipment, according to company officials. The plant reopened four weeks after being closed Aug. 20.

    Several class-action suits are being planned as a result of the outbreak, which has led to one of the most serious food crisis in recent Canadian history.