A surge of toxic wild mushrooms is sending immigrant families across the Bay Area and other parts of California to the hospital this winter, with dozens sickened and several people suffering life‑threatening liver injuries. Health authorities are tying the illnesses to death cap and similar Amanita species that popped up in large numbers after early winter storms and are easily mistaken for edible mushrooms. Because the mushrooms’ amatoxins survive cooking, people who thought boiling or frying would make them safe have still ended up facing rapid and severe liver damage.
Local reporting shows the toll is landing hardest on Spanish‑speaking and indigenous Mayan communities, where foraging and informal mushroom sales are common and language barriers can make official warnings easy to miss. As reported by The Oaklandside, one East Oakland resident identified as M.G. became seriously ill after eating a mushroom she believed was edible, and her husband later required an emergency liver transplant.
How Many People Have Been Sickened and Where
According to the California Department of Public Health, at least 40 people have been hospitalized and four have died in cases reported since Nov. 18, 2025, and several patients have needed liver transplants. The agency says hospitalizations span multiple counties, including Alameda, Contra Costa, Monterey, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Sonoma, with clusters concentrated in the Monterey and Bay Area regions.
Why These Mushrooms Are So Dangerous
Emergency physicians say this season is unusually severe. “I believe this is probably the largest outbreak that we’ve seen in California ever,” Dr. Craig Smollin said during a state briefing, as reported by SFGATE. Amatoxins in death caps and related species attack the liver’s ability to make essential proteins, and early bouts of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea can briefly ease up even as life‑threatening liver injury is silently developing.
Multilingual Outreach and Community Response
Public health agencies and community groups have launched multilingual warnings and outreach, posting trailhead signs with QR codes and hosting Spanish‑language information sessions aimed at immigrant neighborhoods. Community outlets such as El Tímpano and reporting by The Oaklandside note that many affected residents prefer Spanish or indigenous languages like Mam and Mixteco, prompting targeted, language‑specific education efforts.
What To Do If You Suspect Exposure
Anyone who thinks they or a family member may have eaten a wild mushroom is urged to call the Poison Hotline immediately at 1‑800‑222‑1222. The California Poison Control System offers 24/7, multilingual guidance and can help direct people to urgent medical care. Health officials also warn residents not to pick or eat wild mushrooms and to avoid buying mushrooms from unlicensed street vendors, in line with guidance from the California Department of Public Health…