California's Deadly Mushroom Warning: What You Need to Know

California is facing a serious issue with wild mushrooms. Recently, many people got sick from eating them. Three people even died. This is a big problem because usually, only a few people get sick from mushrooms each year. The main culprit is the death cap mushroom. It's one of the most dangerous types. It has a poison called amatoxin. This poison can seriously harm the liver and kidneys. Symptoms start within a day. They include vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain. But the real danger comes later. The liver can get badly damaged, even leading to death. Why is this happening now? Experts say the weather helped. Early rain and mild weather made the mushrooms grow a lot. This is especially true in Northern California. Because of this, health officials are warning everyone to be careful.They say not to pick wild mushrooms. Even if you think you know what you're doing, it's risky. Some bad mushrooms look like safe ones. Cooking or freezing them won't make them safe either. The best advice is to only eat mushrooms from the store. Kids are especially at risk. They make up most of the cases where children get sick from mushrooms. Parents should keep an eye on them when they're outside. The same goes for pets. This isn't just a California problem. Mushroom poisonings happen all over the U. S. Every year, thousands of people get sick from toxic mushrooms. It's important to stay informed and be careful.