The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued a Health Update to their January 2026 guidance describing an increase in severe, potentially fatal liver damage associated with accidental consumption of amatoxin-containing mushrooms (Death Caps and Western Destroying Angels).
CDPH and the California Poison Control System (CPCS) are alerting health care providers of a recent resurgence in mushroom poisoning cases across parts of Northern California and the Central Coast. CDPH has also been informed of new blooms occurring in these regions as well as in parts of Southern California.
Eight cases have been reported in the last four weeks (with four of the eight reported in the last week), in a time frame past the normal peak blooming season. Typically, there are reports of less than 5 cases of mushroom poisonings each year in California. In total, between November 18, 2025, and May 11, 2026, an unprecedented 47 cases have been reported to CPCS, with severe illnesses resulting in four deaths and four liver transplants.
