The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (July 19) investigating a suspected food poisoning case involving consumption of mushrooms.

     The case involves two males and three females aged 26 to 61, who developed abdominal pain, diarrhoea, dizziness, generalised weakness, limb numbness, nausea and vomiting about six hours after consuming mushrooms at a restaurant in Wong Tai Sin yesterday evening (July 18). Two of the patients sought medical attention at the Accident and Emergency Department of Queen Elizabeth Hospital on July 19 and required hospitalisation. They are in stable condition.

     "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," a CHP spokesman said.

     "We advise the public to buy mushrooms from reputable and reliable suppliers and not to buy mushroom products which may be mixed with unknown species. Members of the public should not pick wild mushrooms for consumption as it is difficult to distinguish edible mushroom species from inedible ones. Mixing of edible species with inedible or poisonous species of mushroom will not dilute toxicity. Cooking in most cases does not destroy toxicity," the spokesman 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/Tuesday, July 19, 2022
Issued at HKT 19:28

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