California is experiencing an 'unprecedented outbreak' of mushroom poisonings, as health officials express concern that tourists are harvesting toxic fungi for consumption. Since November 18, the California Department of Public Health has reported 47 cases of severe illness, including four deaths, linked to the consumption of poisonous wild mushrooms.
Napa County Hospitalizations
On Tuesday, Napa County officials announced that three adults, who were not local residents, were hospitalized over the weekend after eating poisonous wild mushrooms foraged in the Deer Park area. 'Recent rains have contributed to the resurgence of poisonous wild mushrooms in California, including in Napa,' said Dr. Christine Wu, Napa County Public Health Officer. 'Poisonous mushrooms can look and taste similar to safe mushrooms, and even experienced mushroom hunters have been affected by this outbreak.'
Risk to Non-Native Foragers
Data from the state health department indicates that a majority of those poisoned identified Spanish as their preferred language, leading experts to believe tourists are foraging the dangerous mushrooms. 'It's not uncommon for people who have foraged in other parts of the world successfully to come to a new place where there's different types of mushrooms around it or something that looks like something that was edible before but really isn't,' said Craig Smollin, medical director of the San Francisco Division of the California Poison Control System, in an interview with SFGATE. 'I don't know why that would be more prevalent this year than other years, but it does seem like those communities are particularly at risk.'
The cities and counties with hospitalizations include Alameda, Contra Costa, Humboldt, Monterey, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Sacramento, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, and Yuba. 'These cases are a continuation of a mushroom poisoning outbreak that began in November and is continuing for longer than usual. It is also unusually large and widespread,' Smollin added.
Deadly Fungi Identified
In January, Contra Costa County officials reported that a Hispanic man in his 60s was the latest to die from wild mushroom poisoning. The state health department identified Death Cap and Western Destroying Angel mushrooms as the poisonous fungi being harvested. 'Poisonous mushrooms can look and taste similar to safe mushrooms. Some may resemble mushrooms that you can buy in a grocery store,' the California Department of Public Health stated. 'Newly arrived persons to California who are accustomed to foraging in their home country may mistake poisonous mushrooms in California for safe mushrooms foraged or cultivated in their native country.'
Warnings from Experts
Smollin warned foragers to exercise caution. 'When you go into the wild and decide to forage, you're taking a risk. And unless you have really a lot of experience, the risk is that you could pick a mushroom that could change your life forever,' he said. 'Ending up with a liver transplant is a life-changing event. Medications for the rest of your life, you have gone through a huge surgery, it's a big deal.'
The California Department of Public Health advises that the best way to stay safe is to not eat wild mushrooms. Cooking, boiling, freezing, or drying poisonous mushrooms does not make them safe to eat. Symptoms may not appear until 6 to 24 hours after eating a poisonous mushroom, and even mild symptoms can be the beginning of a more severe reaction.
