California officials are warning foragers after an outbreak of poisoning linked to wild mushrooms that has killed one adult and caused severe liver damage in several patients, including children.
The state poison control system has identified 21 cases of amatoxin poisoning, likely caused by death cap mushrooms, the health department said Friday. The toxic wild mushrooms are often mistaken for edible ones because of their appearance and taste.
“Death cap mushrooms contain potentially deadly toxins that can lead to liver failure,” Erica Pan, director of the California Department of Public Health, said in a statement. “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.”
Do they mean, that some people foraged death caps, died, so suddenly mushrooms became overall more dangerous? This is not how it works!
I’m guessing they mean they’re tired of dealing with mushroom poisoning cases. “High risk” according to the article means wet weather and more death caps for laypeople to find and eat.
death caps became established in the us and spreading, because it was being brought over from importing oak trees. and it will spread to similar oak species native to the us, and plus its a mycorhizzae on oaks, so its impossible to get rid of them.