Health officials in California are warning people to stay away from wild mushrooms after a dangerous rise in poisonings.
Over a short period from November 18 to January 4, thirty-five people in the state became sick after eating wild mushrooms. Tragically, three people died, and three others needed liver transplants to survive.
Usually, California only sees about five mushroom poisoning cases in an entire year. But this time, the number was much higher. Dr. Michael Stacey, who is currently the health officer in Sonoma County, called the situation alarming. One of the deaths involved someone from Sonoma County who ate wild mushrooms in early January.
Experts believe most of these poisonings were caused by a type of mushroom called the death cap. This mushroom is one of the most dangerous in the world. It contains a deadly poison called amatoxin. Once inside the body, amatoxin can seriously damage or even destroy the liver and kidneys.
Weather conditions helped the mushrooms grow quickly across Northern California this season. Rainfall came early, and the fall weather stayed mild, which created the perfect environment for mushrooms like death caps to spread widely.
In response to the growing danger, the California Department of Public Health released a warning in December. The message was clear: do not pick or eat wild mushrooms unless they are identified by a true expert. Clusters of mushroom poisonings had already been reported in areas like the San Francisco Bay Area and Monterey County.
The symptoms of mushroom poisoning can start within the first 24 hours. People may experience vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and dehydration. At first, these symptoms might seem to improve, giving a false sense of recovery. But after a few days, the poison can begin to damage the liver severely, leading to a life-threatening emergency.
Dr. Stacey stressed that many dangerous mushrooms look almost exactly like harmless ones. Even people who have experience foraging can be fooled. “Eating wild mushrooms gathered without expert identification can be unsafe,” he said.
Children are especially at risk. Health officials noted that kids under six years old are involved in most mushroom poisoning cases among children. Parents are being urged to watch young children and pets closely when outdoors, especially in areas where mushrooms grow.
It’s also important to know that cooking, freezing, or drying toxic mushrooms does not make them safe. Once a mushroom is poisonous, no amount of preparation will remove the danger. That’s why people are being told to only eat mushrooms that come from grocery stores or trusted sellers.
Tracking mushroom poisoning cases is not easy, but researchers estimate that around 7,400 people in the United States are exposed to toxic mushrooms every year. This estimate came from a 2018 study published in the journal Mycologia.
In summary, the message from health experts is simple but serious: avoid picking wild mushrooms, no matter how harmless they may look. With deadly mushrooms like the death cap spreading across California, it’s better to be safe than sorry. A mistake in the forest could cost someone their life.
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