California reports largest outbreak of deadly mushroom poisoning
California health officials are sounding the alarm about a deadly poisoning outbreak linked to Amanita phalloides, or the death cap mushroom.
The California Department of Public Health reported 35 people between the ages of 19 months and 67 years have been sickened in the outbreak since November. That number is far higher than the average number of mushroom poisonings in California, which is around five per year.
Three adult deaths in the state have been linked to ingesting poisonous mushrooms, and another three people have undergone liver transplants.
Dr. Craig Smollin, a professor of emergency medicine at UCSF Medical Center and medical director for the San Francisco Division of California Poison Control System, or CPCS, said during a Wednesday press conference this may be state’s largest poisoning outbreak related to the mushrooms ever. Currently, one person remains hospitalized with “significant” liver injury, he said.
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