Canberrans are being warned deadly mushrooms could be growing in the ACT after recent heavy rains and sunny days.
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ACT chief health officer Dr Paul Kelly urged Canberrans to avoid picking or eating wild mushrooms in case they were poisonous.
It could be "extremely difficult" – even for experienced mushroom collectors – to tell the difference between edible varieties and potentially deadly ones, such as the Death Cap fungus, he said.
"For this reason, all mushrooms should be purchased from a reputable supplier," Dr Kelly said in a statement.
Four people have died from eating Death Cap mushrooms in the ACT over the past 16 years. There have also been a number of poisonings. There were four reported poisonings in Canberra last year.
Symptoms of Death Cap poisoning generally occur within six to 24 hours of them being eaten and include stomach pains, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
Symptoms can subside for one to two days, giving the false impression that a person is recovering, but the toxins will have already caused serious liver damage, which can lead to liver failure and even death.
Death Cap mushrooms typically grow in Canberra around late March but they can be found at other times of the year, depending on the weather.
They generally grow near established oak trees in wet, warm weather and are typically spotted in late summer and autumn.
"All parts of the Death Cap mushroom are poisonous and eating just one can be fatal," Dr Kelly said. "Cooking the Death Cap does not make it safe to eat."
Anyone who suspects they may have eaten Death Cap mushrooms should seek urgent medical attention at a hospital emergency department.
More information about Death Cap mushrooms is available on the ACT Health website.
