The BC Centre for Disease Control is warning British Columbians to be aware of the poisonous "death cap" mushroom after a child in Vancouver was sent to hospital after eating a piece of the toxic fungi.
The "death cap" is often found growing in urban areas and is the world's deadliest mushroom.
Once ingested, the toxins from death caps can damage the liver and kidney. Six to 12 hours after eating the mushroom, people often feel cramps and abdominal pain. The mushrooms can also induce vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration.
Some of those symptoms may diminish after 24 hours, but the toxins remain in the body, and can trigger a second wave of symptoms — potentially leading to severe illness and organ failure — after 72 hours.
The fatal fungi isn't native to B.C. and usually pops up in the wet fall months. It's thought to have arrived from Europe on the roots of urban trees.
The mushrooms have been spotted around the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island and the BC Centre for Disease Control maintains a map tracking reported death cap mushroom sightings in B.C. as well as western Washington, U.S.A.
With files from Stefan Labbé.
