The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (April 6) investigating a food poisoning outbreak related to the consumption of wild mushrooms, and urged the public not to pick and eat wild mushrooms.

     The patients are three women aged from 36 to 45 who developed abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and sweating 30 minutes after consuming wild mushrooms at home yesterday. All were admitted to Ruttonjee Hospital on the same day. They remained in a stable condition and have been discharged.

     Initial investigations revealed that the wild mushrooms consumed by the patients were picked near Bowen Road on Hong Kong Island yesterday. The CHP's investigation is ongoing.

     "Members of the public should not pick wild mushrooms for consumption as it is difficult to distinguish edible mushroom species from inedible ones," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     "Mushroom poisoning is generally acute. Common presentations include gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain appearing shortly after ingestion. Depending on the mushroom species, patients may also have other symptoms like profuse sweating, hallucination, coma or other neurological symptoms, as well as liver failure. Death may result in severe cases," he added.

     "If mushroom poisoning is suspected, the patient should seek immediate medical attention and bring along any available remnant for identification," the spokesman said.

Ends/Saturday, April 6, 2019
Issued at HKT 15:43

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