Public warned against poisonous mushrooms

KUCHING: The Sarawak Health Department yesterday warned people to be careful when consuming mushrooms because there are those which can cause death – one of them is the Chlorophyllum species.

Hospitals and health clinics in Sibu had received patients seeking treatment for intoxication symptoms after consuming mushrooms, especially those gathered or collected by them from the forests.

Mushroom poisoning is a serious incidence because it may lead to death, the department said.

The latest cases of mushroom poisoning happened at Jalan Ulu Lanang in Sibu and Sung aiPeny al au in Kanowit.

“With the confirmation by the Research and Development Division, Sarawak Forestry Department , the episode of mushroom poisoning happened at Jalan Ulu Lanang Sibu involving a family consuming the Chlorophyllum species of mushroom picked from a place not far from their house,” it said in a statement prepared by Communicable Disease Control Section.

All cases showed symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea and stomachache and they were treated at Sibu Hospital.

On the other hand, the mushroom poisoning at Sungai Penyalau Kanowit was attributed to mushrooms bought from a hawk er at Kano wit Market and it involved seven cases showing symptoms such as diarrhoea, chills, nausea and vomiting.

Further investigation by Kanowit District Office and morphological identification by Sarawak Forestry Department confirmed that this episode of food poisoning was caused by poisonous mushrooms from the Rhodophyllum species.

“In regards to these two mushroom poisoning incidences t he Sarawak Health Department would like to advise the public to always be cautious when picking, cooking and eating any kind of mushrooms to avoid incidents of food poisoning due to toxic mushrooms.

“Actually there is no proper way to differentiate between toxic and edible fungus or mushrooms because most of them have almost identical shapes and colours,” it said.