Authorities warn that "extremely toxic" mushrooms appear early in Victoria



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Health officials warn Victoria residents to be aware of "extremely toxic" fungi spotted earlier than usual.

Fungi have been sighted in the Uplands and Cedar Hill regions. they add that they can cause illness or even death if they are ingested.

"The toxin is absolutely destructive to the human liver," said Dr. Richard Stanwick, Medical Director of Island Health . Jason D & # 39; Souza

"People have more severe symptoms during this period of 12 to 36 hours … with signs of jaundice, and as the liver fails, you end up with seizures, coma and, without liver transplantation, the probability of death is quite significant. "

If eaten, mushrooms can be deadly, especially for children and pets. They are responsible for more than 90% of deadly mushroom poisoning worldwide.

Fungi usually appear in the fall, but members of the South Vancouver Island Mycological Society spotted them in July of this year. 2017.

Stanwick says that it's unclear why mushrooms appear earlier, but it's perhaps the combination of summer heat and watering the lawn that creates the ideal conditions for spreading and germination.

mushroom was held in 2016, when a three-year-old Victoria boy died after eating one.

Island Health has offered foragers a few tips to avoid deadly fungi:

  • Do not eat wild mushrooms unless you know certain that they are
  • can confuse death hats with dandruff. other types of edible mushrooms. The deadly caps look like chicken balls and straw mushrooms.
  • If you think you may have eaten a death hat, call 911 or the B.C. Drug and Poison Information Center at 1-800-567-8911. Keep a sample of the mushroom for testing.

Stanwick says owners who find caps on their property can remove the mushrooms by wearing rubber gloves, double bagging them and throwing them in the garbage –

Listen Full interview:

Mushrooms have been sighted in the Uplands and Cedar Hill areas, said Island Health in a statement, adding that "if ingested, they can cause illness or even death. ] 8:01

With CBC Radio One's All Points West files

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