California Sees Rise in Mushroom Poisonings Amid Heavy Winter Rain
• California sees a spike in mushroom poisonings, mainly from death cap mushrooms (*Amanita phalloides*) due to heavy winter rains.
• 39 illnesses reported in the last three months, including four fatalities and three liver transplants, with many affected primarily speaking Spanish.
• Public health officials and mycological societies are issuing multilingual warnings in recreational areas to prevent further incidents.
Toxic mushrooms cause rise in poisonings
California is experiencing a concerning rise in mushroom poisonings, primarily due to the proliferation of the highly toxic death cap mushroom, *Amanita phalloides*. The surge in cases is attributed to the heavy winter rains that have created ideal conditions for these fungi to thrive. Over the past three months, health officials have reported 39 illnesses, tragically resulting in four fatalities and necessitating three liver transplants.
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