At least 35 people across California have been poisoned by death cap mushrooms, including a toddler — and three adults have died, health officials said.
Three adult fatalities and three emergency liver transplants had been linked to the ongoing outbreak as of January 6, the California Department of Public Health said last week.
“Death cap mushrooms contain potentially deadly toxins that can lead to liver failure,” the department’s director, Erica Pan, 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.”
Those affected range in age from just 19 months to 67 years old, officials said, updating a health advisory from December.
Officials said recent heavy rains have triggered a surge in death cap mushrooms across the state.
The CDPH warned Californians not to pick or eat wild mushrooms because the risk of deadly poisoning remains high.
Health officials were especially concerned about amatoxins, the dangerous compound in death cap mushrooms that can damage the liver and kidneys.
Toxic wild mushrooms are often mistaken for edible ones because of their appearance and taste. With the uptick in cases, officials are advising against mushroom foraging.
Just 24 hours after eating a toxic mushroom, people can get stomach cramps, nausea, diarrhea, or severe vomiting.
Even if stomach issues fade, health officials warn that serious, life-threatening complications like liver damage can show up long after the first symptoms are gone.
