State issues urgent alert as deadly mushroom cases rise in Northern California

SACRAMENTO, 12/8/25 – Poisonous mushrooms have caused a surge of serious illnesses in Northern California, killing one adult and causing severe liver damage in 21 people since mid-November, state health officials said.

The California Department of Public Health on Friday issued an “urgent advisory” urging the public to avoid foraging for or eating any wild mushrooms after an increase in poisonings linked to the fungi known as death cap mushrooms.