California warns of wild mushroom poisoning outbreak after 50 cases and four deaths
By Alicia Alvarez
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SACRAMENTO, California (KSBW) — California is seeing a resurgence in poisonings linked to picking and consuming poisonous wild mushrooms.
Mushrooms such as Death Caps and Western Destroying Angels are growing in multiple areas across the state, prompting the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to issue a warning.
The CDPH is urging Californians to not pick or eat wild mushrooms. There have been 50 cases of mushroom-related poisonings between November 2025 and May 22. Those cases have included severe liver damage and four deaths. There are less than five reported cases of mushroom poisonings in a typical year.
Nine counties have reported poisonings, including Monterey County.
The CDPH says the outbreak coincides with a widespread bloom of Death Cap and Western Destroying Angel mushrooms across the state. That bloom includes areas where these poisonous mushrooms are not commonly found.
The CDPH recommends that people avoid picking and eating wild mushrooms at this time, to keep pets and children away from mushrooms, to purchase mushrooms from trusted grocery stores and to be aware of symptoms.
Symptoms of wild mushroom poisoning are nausea, abdominal pain, watery diarrhea and dehydration. These symptoms can occur within six to 24 hours after consuming the mushrooms and usually go away within a day. Despite the relief, patients can still develop serious to deadly liver damage.
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