{
  "id": 8887090,
  "title": "Officials warn of poisonous wild mushrooms during rainy season",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/officials-warn-of-poisonous-wild-mushrooms-during-rainy-season",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-21T09:16:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Khaosod English",
    "slug": "khaosod-english",
    "url": "https://www.khaosodenglish.com/featured/2026/09/21/officials-warn-of-poisonous-wild-mushrooms-during-rainy-season/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Nakhon Ratchasima, 21 September 2026 — Health authorities are cautioning the public to exercise care when gathering or consuming wild mushrooms during the rainy season, as poisonous varieties can easily be mistaken for edible ones and have already led to hundreds of illnesses this year in northeastern Thailand. Dr. Sailak Phimkhao, head of the Office of Disease Prevention and Control Region 9 in Nakhon Ratchasima, explained that both edible and toxic wild mushrooms thrive naturally during the rainy season. Some poisonous mushrooms bear a strong resemblance to edible types, especially when they are immature. Individuals who are uncertain about a mushroom's safety should refrain from collecting, purchasing, or consuming it, he advised.\n\nCertain mushrooms, such as the Amanita species, pose a higher risk as they can be confused with edible white Amanita mushrooms. Dr. Sailak cautioned against relying solely on a mushroom’s appearance, color, or past experiences when determining its safety. He also discouraged the use of traditional methods purported to identify toxic mushrooms, including boiling mushrooms with rice, shallots, or garlic and observing color changes, dipping utensils in the cooking pot, or checking for insect or animal bites, as these methods are unreliable.\n\nData from the epidemiology group covering Health Region 9 from January to 21 September 2026 revealed 335 cases of mushroom-related food poisoning and one fatality. Chaiyaphum reported 188 cases and one death, followed by Surin with 65 cases, Buriram with 58, and Nakhon Ratchasima with 24. No fatalities were recorded in the latter three provinces. The majority of patients were women, with the elderly (65 and older) representing the largest age group, followed by those aged 55-64. Many patients were agricultural workers engaged in crop cultivation. Dr. Sailak emphasized that anyone experiencing symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, or diarrhea following mushroom consumption should seek medical attention promptly, rather than waiting to see if symptoms subside. Patients should disclose the mushrooms they consumed, and if feasible, bring leftover mushrooms or photographs of them to aid in diagnosis.\n\nHealth officials warned that individuals who ate mushrooms from the same source should inform others and advise them to monitor for symptoms. They also cautioned against inducing vomiting using fingers in the throat or consuming raw egg whites, as these actions can lead to choking and other complications. The public was advised to purchase mushrooms from reputable cultivated sources, avoid collecting or eating unfamiliar wild mushrooms, refrain from collecting mushrooms from areas previously treated with chemicals, and avoid consuming raw or undercooked wild mushrooms. Additionally, consuming wild mushrooms alongside alcoholic beverages should be avoided, as some varieties may interact with alcohol to cause adverse effects. Health officials reiterated the critical message: \"Unknown mushroom, uncertain mushroom — don’t pick it, don’t eat it.\" Anyone who develops unusual symptoms after consuming mushrooms should seek immediate medical attention. Further information is available from the Department of Disease Control hotline at 1422.",
  "summary": "NAKHON RATCHASIMA — 21 September 2026, Health officials are warning people to be cautious when collecting or eating wild mushrooms during the rainy season, as poisonous varieties can closely resemble edible ones and have already caused hundreds of illnesses in northeastern Thailand this year. Dr. Sailak Phimkhao, director of the Office of Disease Prevention and […] The post Officials warn of…",
  "key_points": [
    "Health authorities warn public about poisonous wild mushrooms during rainy season.",
    "Amanita species mushrooms most dangerous, easily mistaken for edible types.",
    "335 mushroom-related food poisoning cases and 1 fatality reported in Region 9."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}