Three people presented to ACT hospitals this week after ingesting poisonous mushrooms, prompting health authorities to warn people against eating wild mushrooms.
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Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said ACT Health was not able to confirm whether the three people had ingested death cap mushrooms, which can prove deadly when eaten.
"While this is not the normal time of year for death cap mushroom growth in the ACT, it is a timely reminder for people not to pick and eat wild mushrooms. And a reminder that death cap mushrooms can grow anywhere at anytime," Ms Stephen-Smith said.
"We haven't seen recent reports of death cap mushroom sightings in the ACT but we are aware that some have been spotted in other parts of our region, such as Yass and Goulburn."
Ms Stephen-Smith said it was her understanding that the hospital presentations were not linked to a food business, but public health investigations were continuing.
Amanita phalloides - known as death cap mushrooms - were spotted sprouting in January in the ACT, which is significantly earlier than usual, most likely due to wet weather and mild summer temperatures.
ACT chief health officer Dr Kerryn Coleman on Friday afternoon said she was unable to confirm whether the people who presented to hospital had ingested death cap mushrooms, but said inspections were being carried out in the ACT to look for the mushrooms.
"Canberrans should be aware that it is never safe to pick and eat wild mushrooms," Dr Coleman said.
As the name suggests, death cap mushrooms can be deadly and all parts of the mushroom are poisonous whether they have been cooked or not. Eating wild mushrooms is just not worth the risk. Don't eat mushrooms you have found in the wild, and only purchase mushrooms from a reputable supplier."
All parts of the death cap mushroom are poisonous, whether they have been cooked or not.
In 2012 death cap mushrooms killed two Canberra residents who ate them at a dinner party on New Year's Eve and in 2014 they seriously poisoned four others.
Death cap mushrooms, which are easily mistaken for edible mushrooms, often grow near established oak trees but can grow where there are no oak trees. Half a mushroom is estimated to contain enough toxin to kill an adult.
Symptoms of death cap mushroom poisoning generally start appearing between six and 24 hours or more after eating them, and the symptoms included stomach pains, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Anyone who may have eaten a death cap mushroom has been urged to urgently seek medical attention at a hospital emergency department, and to bring remaining mushrooms for identification while being careful to limit contact with the mushrooms.
Sightings of death cap mushrooms in the ACT should be reported to Access Canberra by telephoning 13 22 81.
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