Vancouver area child eats death cap mushroom, warning issued

The BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) has issued a warning about death cap mushrooms after a young child in the Vancouver Coastal Health region recently consumed part of one.

The BCCDC says these mushrooms are “very toxic and can cause liver damage and even death.”

It notes the child got medical attention and is “doing fine” after they ate a “small portion” of a death cap mushroom.

Despite the best outcome, the BCCDC says this incident “is a reminder that these poisonous mushrooms are dangerous for human health. ”

“Death cap mushrooms have been found in the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley and on the Island, including recently in Comox and the Greater Victoria region. Also known by their scientific name Amanita phalloides, death caps are mostly found in urban environments,” the centre explains in a post online.

Be alert for toxic death cap mushrooms in urban areas of southwestern BC: https://t.co/cCMEgGTiur

If you suspect a mushroom poisoning, call the BC Drug and Poison Information Centre immediately at: 1-800-567-8911 pic.twitter.com/Ku2OHiqHJX

— BC Centre for Disease Control (@CDCofBC) July 14, 2023

The agency says the mushrooms are not native to B.C., and were believed to have been brought here “on the roots of residential trees” like the red oak, sweet chestnut, and European beech.

While the BCCDC explains the death cap is more commonly found in wetter fall months, they can appear in the summer, especially in places that are often watered.

According to experts at UBC, death cap mushrooms “usually have a distinct greenish hue” on their caps. They are typically found to be “olive yellowish to brownish to olive in the centre,” with streakes. The caps become “paler whitish to pale yellowish” near the edge.

Death cap mushroom poisoning symptoms

The BCCDC says symptoms of death cap poisoning generally present as cramping, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration within six to 12 hours of consumption.

“After 24 hours, many people will feel better, but the toxins continue to damage vital organs,” the centre says. “A second wave of diarrhea and cramping occurs within 72 hours after eating the mushroom, resulting in severe illness and organ failure. Medical treatment and organ transplants may be required to prevent death.”

Anyone who suspects mushroom poisoning is asked to contact poison control at 1-800-567-8911 right away.