Almost 600 mushroom poisoning outbreaks recorded in China

Mushroom poisoning cases have risen in China but the number of deaths went down slightly in 2024 compared to the year before.

In 2024, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention investigated 599 mushroom poisoning incidents. These outbreaks affected 1,486 patients and resulted in 13 deaths. In 2023, 505 reports of mushroom poisoning with 1,303 patients and 16 deaths were reported.

Investigators identified 110 poisonous mushroom species in 2024 causing seven clinical disease types, including eight species newly documented as poisonous. This brings the number of mushroom species involved in poisoning incidents in China to 246, according to a study published in China CDC Weekly.

The number of cases per incident ranged from 1 to 14, with 11 outbreaks involving more than 10 patients. Among these cases, 50 patients from 17 incidents consumed poisonous mushrooms purchased from markets, 37 patients from 14 incidents were poisoned after eating dried mushrooms, and 15 patients from 10 incidents consumed uncooked wild mushrooms.

Poisonings occurred throughout the year, with the highest frequency between June and October, peaking in June. Sichuan, Yunnan, Hunan, Guizhou, and Chongqing were the most affected regions. Five deaths were reported in Guizhou, two each in Sichuan, Chongqing, and Heilongjiang, and one each in Hunan, and Jiangsu.

Southwestern China was the most severely affected region, with 321 incidents, 882 patients, and nine deaths, followed by the central part of the country with 126 incidents, 235 patients, and one death.

Types of illness by mushroom species
The most lethal types of mushrooms involved in the outbreaks were Amanita exitialis, A. molliuscula, A. subpallidorosea, Lepiota brunneoincarnata, and Russula subnigricans, each causing two deaths. Chlorophyllum molybdites was responsible for the highest number of poisoning incidents with 147 affecting 269 people. Paxillus obscurosporus, which causes hemolysis, was identified in an incident for the first time.

A total of 70 mushroom species causing gastroenteritis were identified in 2024. Eight species — Lactarius trivialis, Lactifluus bertillonii, Ligymnopus moseri, Marasmius maximus, Russula insignis, Tricholoma olivaceum, T. ustaloides, and Tylopilus vinosobrunneus — were newly documented as poisonous mushrooms in China. The most common species in this category were Chlorophyllum molybdites, Russula aff. japonica, and Entoloma omiense.

Eight varieties of Amanita, one species of Galerina, and one of Lepiota caused acute liver failure. 

Galerina sulciceps, Lepiota brunneoincarnata, and Amanita molliuscula were behind the most incidents.

Amanita oberwinklerana and A. pseudoporphyria, were identified as causes of acute kidney injury.

Scientists said many incidents lacked mushroom specimens or photographic documentation, making it impossible to confirm the exact species involved and hindering targeted treatment for affected patients.

“Mushroom poisoning is a serious food safety problem in China. Timely species identification, toxin detection, and clinical type confirmation are crucial for effective mushroom poisoning control and proper patient treatment,” they added.

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