Eleven people in Peach Bottom Township, Pennsylvania were hospitalized after consuming wild mushrooms that were toxic. The patients included a man, a woman, and nine children who were treated at a hospital and released. The incident occurred after family members foraged for the mushrooms and ate them on Friday night. Due to the lack of cellphones among the Amish family, emergency assistance was delayed until a family member walked half a mile to find a public phone and dial 911.
The Delta-Cardiff Volunteer Fire Company Station 57 responded to the incident, which was classified as a “mass casualty incident” due to the high number of patients. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strongly advises against consuming wild mushrooms unless one is a trained expert known as a mycologist. Amanita phalloides mushrooms, also known as “death caps,” are commonly foraged in the wild and are responsible for most mushroom poisonings and deaths in the U.S.
Eating these toxic mushrooms can result in a range of symptoms including abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, and liver damage. The incident serves as a reminder of the dangers associated with consuming wild mushrooms without proper knowledge and expertise.
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