People warned of poisonous mushrooms

BANGKOK, Jul 23 (TNA) - The Thai Ministry of Public Health has, again, warned the public of poisonous mushrooms, as more people have been sick or even died by consuming some non-edible mushrooms which look like edible ones. The ministry has particularly warned people of two types of poisonous mushrooms, which resemble edible Amanita mushrooms in shapes, colours and sizes, especially when they are still young and in bloom. According to the ministry's Disease Control Department, the number of patients falling ill from consuming toxic mushrooms has totaled 649 nationwide, with the highest number reported in the Thai Northeast at 328, followed by 213 in the North, 67 in the central region and 41 in the South, three of total have died. Official probes found that most of the patients had fallen ill or even died due to their consumption of Amanita phalloide and Amanita vahinata, which look very much like the edible types of Amanita mushrooms, especially when the mushrooms are still young. The ministry cautioned people to stay away from picking and eating mushrooms they do not know to prevent further sicknesses or fatalities. (TNA)