Eleven people in Peach Bottom Township, located in Pennsylvania Dutch Country, were hospitalized after consuming toxic wild mushrooms last week. The group included a man, a woman, and nine children who were all treated at a hospital and later released. The incident occurred after family members foraged for mushrooms and ate them on a Friday night. A family member had to walk a half-mile to find a public phone to call 911, as the Amish community generally disallows cellphones and modern technology.
Emergency medical personnel responded to the situation after 9:30 p.m. and all 11 patients were transported to the hospital. Due to the high number of individuals affected, the incident was classified as a “mass casualty incident.” The CDC warns against eating wild mushrooms unless you are a trained expert, as many poisonings and deaths are caused by toxic mushrooms such as the Amanita phalloides, also known as “death caps.” Ingesting these mushrooms can lead to a range of symptoms including abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, dehydration, and liver damage, and in severe cases, can result in death. It is important to exercise caution and avoid consuming wild mushrooms unless you are knowledgeable about their safety.
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