Eleven people in Peach Bottom Township, Pennsylvania were hospitalized after consuming wild mushrooms that turned out to be toxic. The patients included a man, a woman, and nine children who had foraged the mushrooms themselves. Family members had to walk half a mile to find a public phone to call for help, as the Amish community generally does not allow the use of cellphones. Emergency medical personnel arrived after 9:30 p.m. and all 11 patients were transported to the hospital.
The incident was classified as a “mass casualty incident” due to the number of people affected. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns against consuming wild mushrooms unless one is a trained expert, as many toxic varieties can be mistaken for edible ones. The most common cause of mushroom poisonings and deaths in the U.S. are from foraging Amanita phalloides, or “death cap” mushrooms, in the wild.
Symptoms of mushroom poisoning can include abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, and liver damage. In severe cases, ingesting toxic mushrooms can be fatal. It is important for individuals to exercise caution and avoid consuming wild mushrooms unless they are absolutely certain of their safety and edibility.
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