Eleven people in Peach Bottom Township, Pennsylvania were hospitalized after consuming wild mushrooms that were apparently toxic. The patients included a man, a woman, and nine children who were treated at a hospital and later released. The incident occurred after family members foraged wild mushrooms and consumed them on Friday night. One family member had to walk a half-mile to find a public phone to call 911, as the Amish community generally does not use cellphones or modern technology. Emergency medical personnel arrived after 9:30 p.m. and all 11 patients were transported to the hospital.
The situation was deemed a mass casualty incident due to the number of individuals affected. The CDC warns against consuming wild mushrooms unless one is a trained mycologist, as many mushroom poisonings and deaths in the U.S. involve foraged Amanita phalloides mushrooms, also known as “death caps”. Consumption of these toxic fungi can lead to death, as well as abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, and liver damage. It is recommended to avoid consuming wild mushrooms unless one is an expert, as they can have serious health consequences.
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