In California, a 'super bloom' of death caps sparks mushroom poisoning outbreak
This winter, California is seeing the largest outbreak of mushroom poisonings in at least the past three decades. In a typical year, there are five; this year, there have been 35.
JUANA SUMMERS, HOST: Early fall rains in California have brought a superbloom of poisonous mushrooms, specifically the ones known as death caps, and it has led to what might be the largest outbreak of mushroom poisonings in the country ever. Dozens have been hospitalized, and while officials are warning the public to avoid foraging altogether, some mushroom experts say that guidance goes too far. From member station KQED, April Dembosky reports.APRIL DEMBOSKY, BYLINE: It was after the first rains of the year two Decembers ago that Noe and his brothers went hiking in Santa Rosa and found some mushrooms. The hospital at UC San Francisco put NPR in touch with Noe on condition that we use only his first name. The men fried them up that night and kicked back a few beers.NOE: (Speaking Spanish).DEMBOSKY: Noe says the mushrooms here look just like mushrooms he used to find back home in Mexico. But they are not the same.NOE: (Speaking Spanish).DEMBOSKY: The men got dizzy. Then came the vomiting, diarrhea and cramps. If Noe hadn't gotten a liver transplant, he would have died.NOE: (Speaking Spanish).DEMBOSKY: In a typical year, California sees three to five cases of mushroom poisoning. This year, it's 35. Three people needed liver transplants, and three died. The first reports came in to the San Francisco Division of California Poison Control in November. Medical director Craig Smollin says, then a family of seven got sick, including a toddler.CRAIG SMOLLIN: These cases often occur in communities that are maybe immigrant, may not speak English and have experience foraging for mushrooms in another country.DEMBOSKY: He says patients from this outbreak are from Guatemala, Mexico and China.SMOLLIN: It's very easy to confuse an edible mushroom from a poisonous mushroom. That's a very easy mistake to make.DEMBOSKY: This season, there seem to be so many more mistakes than usual because there are so many more death caps than usual. Mycologists say early rain and a warm fall led to what they've been calling a superbloom of death caps. State health officials say the mushrooms have been found across city, county and national park land. That's why they're warning the public to stop foraging for the rest of the season.SMOLLIN: We would just say, like, don't do this at all.DEMBOSKY: But that blanket statement disappointed a lot of local mushroom enthusiasts, like Sita Davis.SITA DAVIS: You know, often, it turns into total mycophobia.DEMBOSKY: Irrational fear of fungi.DAVIS: We really think that it's a better idea to get educated about the miraculous, amazing beings that these mushrooms are.DEMBOSKY: She took me to a trail in Oakland for a primer on identifying mushrooms.DAVIS: What tree is it growing under?DEMBOSKY: What color is it?DAVIS: What's its texture?DEMBOSKY: How does it smell?(SOUNDBITE OF FOOTSTEPS)DEMBOSKY: At the top of the hill, underneath a sprawling live oak tree, Davis paws through a mound of leaves. She uncovers a mushroom with a slender white stem and drooping yellowish cap.DAVIS: OK. We found some death caps.DEMBOSKY: There's a whole cluster of them nearby, amanita phalloides. Davis says they look very similar to Caesars, edible kinds of amanitas that grow in Mexico.DAVIS: That can be a deadly, deadly mistake.DEMBOSKY: A mistake health officials like Craig Smollin don't want on their hands. He stands by the blanket warning.SMOLLIN: I'd rather have the mycology community up in arms at me for coming down too hard and saying that you shouldn't forage than have a 19-month-old who's, you know, listed for transplant.DEMBOSKY: After his liver transplant, Noe says he doesn't forage anymore. He's not interested in eating mushrooms ever again.NOE: (Speaking Spanish).DEMBOSKY: He says, just the smell of them makes him dizzy.For NPR News, I'm April Dembosky in San Francisco.(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
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