Bay Area Death After Eating Wild Mushrooms Spurs New Warnings of Toxic 'Super Bloom' | KQED

"But their looks are deceiving. Death caps have about a 50% mortality rate and are responsible for more than 90% of mushroom-related deaths. The California Department of Public Health in December said that the agency detected two "significant clusters" of poisoning cases in Monterey and San Francisco counties, caused by the amatoxin found in the fungi. Experts say that people who've eaten a toxic mushroom could begin feeling flu-like symptoms, including vomiting, stomach pain, nausea and diarrhea, within six to 24 hours."

"Even if those symptoms fade, liver damage can still develop over the course of a few days. While foraging is part of important cultural or culinary traditions for some, the Sonoma County officials are urging residents to avoid eating wild mushrooms at all during the super bloom, which Stacey said was spurred by mild temperatures and early fall rains in Northern California."

"The county officials urged residents to keep an eye on children and pets who might come into contact with the mushrooms. They said that cooking, boiling or freezing the poisonous blooms won't make them safe to eat, and suggested buying mushrooms only from grocery stores and other "trusted" retailers. If someone does eat a poisonous mushroom, the county said that person should seek medical attention immediately, since treatment becomes more difficult once symptoms start."

Death cap mushrooms carry roughly a 50% mortality rate and account for over 90% of mushroom-related fatalities. The California Department of Public Health detected two significant poisoning clusters in Monterey and San Francisco counties linked to amatoxin. Symptoms of amatoxin poisoning often start six to 24 hours after ingestion and resemble flu-like illness, with vomiting, stomach pain, nausea, and diarrhea; liver damage can develop days later even if initial symptoms subside. Sonoma County officials advise avoiding all wild mushrooms during the super bloom, keeping children and pets away, recognizing that cooking or freezing does not neutralize toxins, and seeking immediate medical care if ingestion occurs.

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