CD HEALTH ALERT: Death Cap Mushrooms Linked to Three Deaths, Three Liver Transplants, and 35 Hospitalizations

Key messages: 

• The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is issuing an update to its December 5 health advisory as an outbreak of amatoxin poisoning continues across California.
• This outbreak is linked to the consumption of wild foraged mushrooms and has caused severe liver damage in children and adults.
• As of January 6, 35 cases, including three adult fatalities and three liver transplants, have been linked to the ongoing outbreak.
• Recent rain contributed to widespread growth of Death Cap mushrooms in California. CDPH is again urging Californians not to pick or eat wild mushrooms as the risk of potentially deadly amatoxin poisoning is high.
• Since Death Cap mushrooms are easily confused for safe-to-eat, lookalike mushrooms, all mushroom foraging should be avoided. 

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