California public health officials are urging residents to avoid picking or consuming wild mushrooms following a sharp and unprecedented rise in poisoning cases across the state.

Since November, authorities have identified 50 cases linked primarily to highly toxic species such as the death cap (Amanita phalloides) and the western destroying angel (Amanita ocreata).

These mushrooms are among the most dangerous in the world, with the death cap alone responsible for the majority of fatal mushroom poisonings globally.

In California, the recent surge has already resulted in four deaths and four cases requiring liver transplants, marking one of the most severe outbreaks in the state’s history.

Officials note that in a typical year, the California Poison Control System records only a handful of mushroom-related illnesses, making the current spike especially alarming.

The outbreak has been concentrated in Northern California and the Central Coast, including counties such as Alameda, Humboldt, Marin, Monterey, Napa, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Sonoma.Some cases have also emerged in areas where these toxic mushrooms were previously uncommon.

Health authorities attribute the increase in poisonings to a combination of accidental foraging and unusually favorable growing conditions, including a wet winter followed by spring rains.This has led to a proliferation of wild mushrooms, increasing the risk of misidentification by foragers.Officials emphasize that even experienced mushroom gatherers can mistake deadly species for edible ones.

In response, the California Department of Public Health is strongly advising the public to avoid foraging or consuming wild mushrooms during this period of heightened risk.

They stress that proper identification is extremely difficult without expert knowledge, and even small amounts of toxic species can cause severe liver damage or death.