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 both children and adults, resulting in three adult deaths and three liver transplants to date. CDPH urges Californians not to pick or eat wild mushrooms.
Between November 18 and January 6, the California Poison Control System (CPCS) has identified 35 hospitalized cases across Northern California and the Central Coast, spanning regions from Sonoma to San Luis Obispo. Affected individuals range in age from 19 months to 67 years and include family groups and individual cases. Medical treatment for amatoxin poisoning has been provided in the following counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Monterey, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Sonoma. Most cases are in the Monterey and San Francisco Bay Area, though Death Cap mushrooms can be found across the state, particularly adjacent to oaks, other hardwoods and some pines.
Information provided by some affected individuals indicates that Death Cap mushrooms were collected from various locations across Northern California and the Central Coast regions, including, county, city and national park lands.