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Toxic mushrooms found near Adelaide

Poisonous deathcap mushrooms have been found in the Adelaide Hills and SA Health is warning people not to eat wild varieties.

deathcap mushroom
Poisonous deathcap mushrooms have been found in the Adelaide Hills. (AAP)

People are being warned not to eat wild mushrooms after a potentially deadly variety was found near Adelaide.

Deathcap mushrooms are growing in the Adelaide Hills and SA Health says it's difficult to distinguish them from harmless varieties.

"The only safe mushrooms to eat are those you buy at your local supermarket or known and reputable outlets," State Herbarium research associate Pam Catcheside said on Wednesday.

Deathcap mushrooms can cause liver damage and kidney failure and a single one is enough to kill a healthy adult.

People should go to hospital if they believe they have eaten one.

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Children are particularly susceptible to poisoning and made up more than 60 per cent of potential cases in SA last year.

In 2015, 10 people from NSW were hospitalised after eating poisonous wild mushrooms. In 2012, two people died after eating them in Canberra.


1 min read

Published

Source: AAP



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