3 deaths, dozens of illnesses linked to California poisonous mushroom outbreak: Officials
ABC News • • nation
Key Points:
- California is experiencing what officials warn could be the largest toxic mushroom outbreak in the state's history, with 35 reported poisonings and three deaths linked to death cap mushrooms and the Western destroying angel mushroom.
- Recent heavy rains and mild weather have caused a surge in these deadly fungi, particularly in Northern California counties such as Sonoma, Alameda, and San Francisco.
- Symptoms of poisoning, which appear 6 to 24 hours after ingestion, include severe gastrointestinal distress, and some victims have required liver transplants, including a child and one adult.
- Health officials strongly advise against foraging for wild mushrooms without expert identification and caution consumers when purchasing mushrooms from street vendors or farmers' markets.
- This outbreak far exceeds the usual annual mushroom poisoning
 { path { fill: %23EEEFE9 } })