Severe mushroom poisonings in Germany up

The number of severe mushroom poisoning cases in Germany has increased in the last year, reports the German website Proplanta.de. In 2013 34 cases were handled in the hospital according to the German DAK health insurance (Duitse ziekenfonds DAK), this is 41% more than in the previous year. Most of the cases landed in hospitals in the state of Bayern. Nine cases were registered here, four less than in 2012.

According to DAK-doctor Elisabeth Thomas more and more people are going out to pick chanterelles, edible chestnuts and mushrooms on their own. "People in Southern Germany were afraid that mushrooms could be contaminated with radioactive material, as a result of the Chernobyl disaster. This fear is slowly disappearing."

Mushroom books or forums on the internet are not enough however to be able to clearly know all the different kinds of mushrooms, warns Thomas. "A lot of mushrooms have poisonous look-alikes." For example, a tasty, harmless mushroom can look like the deadly knolamaniet. "I can only advice inexperienced collectors to be very careful."

Whoever has symptoms of nausea, diarrhea and/or vomiting should contact medical help right away.