Three people have presented to ACT emergency departments this week after possibly ingesting death cap mushrooms.

While unable to confirm whether or not they were in fact death cap mushrooms, ACT Chief Health Officer Dr Kerryn Coleman said the presentations all occurred after the individuals ate wild mushrooms.

“While this is not the normal time of year for death cap mushroom growth in the ACT, which normally peaks around autumn, this is a timely reminder that wild mushrooms can grow anywhere, anytime,” she said.

While ACT Health has not had any recent reports of death cap mushroom sightings in the ACT, some have been reported in other parts of the region, such as Yass, of late.

As a precautionary measure, inspections are being conducted across the ACT where death cap mushroom have previously been identified.

“Canberrans should be aware that it is never safe to pick and eat wild mushrooms,” Dr Coleman said.

Death caps mushrooms can be easily mistaken for edible mushrooms.

“As the name suggests, death cap mushrooms can be deadly and all parts of the mushroom are poisonous whether they have been cooked or not.”

Death cap mushrooms are known to grow in areas across the ACT often near established oak trees but can also be found where no oak trees are evident.

People should not touch wild mushrooms with bare hands and should attempt to keep children and animals away from them.

If you think you may have eaten a death cap mushroom, urgently seek medical attention at a hospital emergency department and take any remaining mushroom to the hospital for identification, taking precautions to reduce physical contact with the item.

Symptoms of poisoning generally occur 6-24 hours or more after eating mushrooms, and include pains, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.

The chances of survival increase where treatment is started early.

If you think you have seen a death cap mushroom in a public area, you can report it to Access Canberra on 13 22 81.

Click here for more information about death cap mushrooms.

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