A third person has died in a rash of poisonings from wild, foraged mushrooms in California, health officials report.
Since November, a total of 35 people across the state have been poisoned by mushrooms, leading to three people receiving liver transplants in addition to the three deaths. Health officials in Sonoma County reported the latest death last week.
Michael Stacey, Sonoma’s interim health officer, attributed the cases and deaths to an extraordinary boom in the prevalence of death cap mushrooms (Amanita phalloides), noting that in an average year, the state sees fewer than five mushroom poisoning cases.
This is a very concerning situation. It’s a reminder of the importance of being cautious with wild foraging. My thoughts are with the families affected by these tragic incidents.