California health officials issue urgent warning to mushroom foragers after deadly poisoning outbreak

Soundness executives in California this week warned the populace about foraging for mushrooms after a deadly outbreak struck the middle part of the state The California Poison Control System has identified at least cases of amatoxin poisoning that left one adult dead and several others including children with severe liver damage One might even need a liver transplant The poisoning was likely caused by the Death cap mushroom which is easily confused with edible mushrooms Administrators warned to also watch out for the destroying angel mushroom which also grows in California WOMAN DETECTED GUILTY IN MUSHROOM MURDER MYSTERY THAT LEFT THREE FAMILY MEMBERS DEAD AFTER MEALResidents in California s Monterey County became sick after eating mushrooms unveiled at a local park and another outbreak happened in the San Francisco area Characteristics can range from mild to moderate depending on how much of the mushroom was consumed and include stomach cramping diarrhea nausea organ failure and liver damage and in rare cases death the poison center declared Even if gastrointestinal responses improve serious complications can still occur including liver damage the poison control center warned CHATGPT DIETARY ADVICE SENDS MAN TO HOSPITAL WITH DANGEROUS CHEMICAL POISONING Death cap mushrooms contain potentially deadly toxins that can lead to liver failure Erica Pan director of the California Department of Populace Wellness mentioned in a report Because the death cap can easily be mistaken for edible safe mushrooms we advise the population not to forage for wild mushrooms at all during this high-risk season Mushrooms grow in abundance during California s rainy season October through March but the poison control center warned that eating the wrong wild mushrooms can cause serious illness or even death Hundreds of poisonings are shared to the center each year the bulk causing severe illness and sometimes death Half of the roughly mushroom poisonings communicated across the U S in were in children according to the National Poison Statistics System annual account who may pick and eat them while playing outside The Associated Press contributed to this account