Detection and Identification in Reported Mushroom Poisoning Incidents - China, 2012-2023

Mushroom poisoning incidents are one of the major causes of death by foodborne outbreaks in China. Effective detection and identification can provide the foundation for determining the cause of the incidents and the early diagnosis and treatment of patients.

The surveillance data from the Public Health Emergency Management Information System, China CDC, showed that incidents with laboratory test results as the basis for determining the cause of mushroom poisoning accounted for only 14.08%. The largest number of deaths was caused by acute liver failure mushrooms, which accounted for 55.17% of the clinical types of mushroom poisoning. Amanita exitialis and Russula subnigricans were responsible for the most incidents, both of which accounted for 17.39% of all species. Amanita exitialis and Amanita fuliginea caused the largest number of poisonings and deaths, accounting for 13.32% and 18.10%, respectively.

Research on the detection and identification of poisonous mushrooms needs to be strengthened. The detection capabilities of primary medical and health institutions, as well as the diagnosis and treatment of mushroom poisoning in primary hospitals, need to be improved.