California Resident Dies of Death Cap Mushroom Poisoning; What Is This Deadly Fungi?

At least three people have now died due to death cap mushroom poisoning in California since November. The state, according to media reports, has been contending with an unusual spate of poisonings from foraged mushrooms, with over 35 cases recorded in the last three months. “The numbers we’re dealing with this year are comparatively off the charts,” Sheri Cardo, a communications specialist for the state health department, told NBC News. Despite the health department issuing warnings in early December discouraging residents from consuming any foraged mushrooms, clusters of poisoning cases around Monterey and the San Francisco Bay Area have been reported. Reports say many residents mistook toxic varieties for mushrooms that are safe to eat. The most

recent death was in Sonoma County, the first from wild mushrooms there this season, according to the county health department. Dr. Michael Stacey, the interim health officer for Sonoma County, instructed residents to only purchase mushrooms from trusted grocery stores and retailers, adding that some “death cap” mushrooms closely resemble edible varieties. “Early rains and a mild fall have led to a profusion of the toxic death cap mushrooms in Northern California,” Dr Michael Stacey, the interim health officer for Sonoma County, said in a press release.

What are death cap mushrooms?

Also known as Amanita phalloides, these are a highly poisonous variety of the fungi that grows under oak trees in parks and gardens. According to experts, these mushrooms may be recognised by the following features:

• Pileus or cap, which is either whitish, yellow, pale brown, or green
• It has white gills
• Spore print is white.
• The volva, or cup, is present at the base of the stipe.
• The annulus, or ring, is present on the stipe

The toxin in death cap mushrooms, called amatoxin, can damage the kidneys, liver, and gastrointestinal tract if ingested.

What are the signs of amatoxin?

Symptoms of amatoxin poisoning can take up to 24 hours to appear and include mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and stomach pain. More severe reactions, like fatal liver damage, can develop within two to three days. According to doctors, one of the most concerning signs is delayed symptoms. Less toxic mushrooms usually cause nausea and vomiting within the first six hours. In contrast, Amanita phalloides classically causes nausea and vomiting more than six hours after ingestion. That delay is a red flag for toxicologists because it suggests the person may have eaten one of the most dangerous species.

How to tell if a mushroom is poisonous?

Experts say the number one rule should be not to eat it if you are not sure. This is especially true for wild mushrooms. While Amanita phalloides can resemble edible button mushrooms used in some Asian dishes, as they grow, they become easier to identify. Some mushrooms, like boletes or chanterelles, are easier to recognize and do not look like poisonous varieties. Others, such as morels, have toxic look-alikes like the false morel. Misidentification is more common with certain white mushrooms or when people hunting for mushrooms, known as foragers, come from regions where similar-looking mushrooms are safe to eat. When in doubt, do not take any chances.

How is mushroom poisoning treated?

Doctors say mushroom poisoning treatment is mostly supportive with IV fluids, critical care, and sometimes even a liver transplant. There are experimental options like silibinin, a milk thistle extract, and high-dose penicillin, which aim to block amatoxin absorption and protect the liver. N-acetylcysteine, an antidote used for acetaminophen overdose, is also often given to patients with evidence of liver injury. But these are not guaranteed cures, so early medical care is essential.