#amatoxin-poisoning

#amatoxin-poisoning

The California Department of Public Health is urging people to avoid foraging for and eating wild mushrooms this season after 21 people have been hospitalized with severe liver damage from a toxic mushroom known as the death cap and one person has died. CDPH issued the blanket advisory after detecting what the agency called two significant clusters of poisoning cases in Monterey and San Francisco counties, caused by the amatoxin found in the fungi.

Because the death cap can easily be mistaken for edible safe mushrooms, we advise the public not to forage for wild mushrooms at all during this high-risk season. One adult has died and several patients have required intensive care, including at least one who might need a liver transplant. Officials advise against wild mushroom foraging Wet weather fuels the growth of death cap mushrooms, and officials warn against any wild mushroom foraging to avoid confusion.