State warns against wild mushroom foraging after Death Cap poisonings
Cases reported from Sonoma to San Luis Obispo counties
– The California Department of Public Health issued an updated health advisory warning Californians not to pick or eat wild mushrooms as an outbreak of amatoxin poisoning linked to Death Cap mushrooms continues across the state.
As of Jan. 6, 35 hospitalized cases have been identified, including three adult deaths and three liver transplants. Recent rain has contributed to widespread growth of Death Cap mushrooms, which are easily confused with edible varieties. Health officials said all mushroom foraging should be avoided due to the risk of potentially fatal poisoning.
The update follows a Dec. 5 health advisory and reports cases between Nov. 18 and Jan. 6 identified by the California Poison Control System. Hospitalizations have occurred across Northern California and the Central Coast, with cases reported from Sonoma to San Luis Obispo counties. Affected individuals range in age from 19 months to 67 years and include family groups and individual cases.
Medical treatment for amatoxin poisoning has been provided in Alameda, Contra Costa, Monterey, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and Sonoma counties. Most cases have occurred in Monterey County and the San Francisco Bay Area. Health officials said Death Cap mushrooms can be found statewide, particularly near oaks, other hardwoods, and some pines.
Information from affected individuals indicates Death Cap mushrooms were collected from a range of locations, including county, city, and national park lands.
The California Department of Public Health continues to coordinate with the California Poison Control System and other public health partners on case investigation, tracking, and public education. The department has released public service announcements warning about the risks of mushroom foraging during the current high-risk season in English, Spanish, and Mixteco, with assistance from the San Luis Obispo County Health Agency. The department has also developed poisonous mushroom educational webpages in English and Spanish, a Chinese-language PDF, multilingual flyers, and updated outbreak resources.
Health officials advised Californians to avoid picking and eating wild mushrooms, noting that Death Cap mushrooms remain poisonous even after cooking, boiling, freezing, or drying. Residents are encouraged to purchase mushrooms only from trusted grocery stores and retailers and to use caution when buying mushrooms from street vendors. Officials also advised keeping children and pets away from wild mushrooms.
Anyone who may have eaten a poisonous mushroom was urged to seek help immediately by contacting the California Poison Control System hotline at (800) 222-1222 and not to wait for symptoms to appear. Initial symptoms can include watery diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and dehydration within six to 24 hours after ingestion and may temporarily subside. Health officials warned that serious to fatal liver damage can still occur within 48 to 96 hours after consumption.
Public health professionals were advised to share educational materials with their communities, assess whether Death Cap mushrooms are present locally, and coordinate with local partners to post advisories in public spaces where mushrooms may be found, including county and city parks. Officials noted that regional and local mycological societies, including the North American Mycological Association, may serve as additional resources.
Additional information on wild mushroom poisonings is available through the California Poison Control System at https://calpoison.org/contact and through the California Department of Public Health poisonous mushroom resources at https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/DEODC/EHIB/Pages/EIS/Poisonous-Mushrooms.aspx and https://go.cdph.ca.gov/PoisonMushrooms.
