Six dead in mushroom poisoning cases in East Jaintia Hills
Fifteen cases of mushroom poisoning have been reported in East Jaintia Hills District since April this year, with six of them tragically resulting in death. The incidents were mainly reported from rural areas where wild mushrooms are often collected from forests and consumed as part of the daily diet.
According to the District Medical & Health Officer, both adults and children have been affected. The risk of such poisonings increases during the monsoon season, from April to October, when wild mushrooms grow abundantly in the region.
The main cause of mushroom poisoning is the accidental consumption of toxic mushrooms, which closely resemble edible ones in shape, size, and colour. Many people are unable to distinguish between the two, leading to dangerous mistakes. In some cases, poisonous mushrooms are unknowingly sold in local markets mixed with edible varieties.
Mushroom poisoning can cause a range of symptoms—from stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhoea to more serious effects like extreme thirst, sweating, confusion, hallucinations, liver damage, and even coma. These toxins are naturally produced by the mushrooms and cannot be removed through cooking, boiling, freezing, or any other form of preparation.
Health officials have warned against picking wild mushrooms unless they are clearly known to be safe. They have also shared simple ways to identify potentially dangerous mushrooms—for example, mushrooms that turn green or purple when cut, have a bitter taste or unpleasant smell, or cause a burning sensation on the tongue are likely to be poisonous. Edible mushrooms, on the other hand, usually have a sweet taste and pleasant smell and may even have worms inside them, which are absent in toxic varieties.
The Health Department is conducting awareness drives in affected villages. Community announcements are being made to warn people of the risks.
The public is strongly advised to:
- Never eat wild mushrooms unless their identity is confirmed
- Be cautious when collecting mushrooms from forests or unknown areas
- Buy mushrooms only from clean and trusted sources
- Avoid mushrooms that appear unhygienic or spoiled
- Wash and cook mushrooms properly before consumption
- Seek medical attention immediately if symptoms of poisoning appear
The District Medical & Health Officer has urged residents to take these warnings seriously and to spread the message in their communities to prevent further loss of life.
Facebook
Instagram
Youtube
Twitter
Is there any means to share clear pictures and description of the Mushroom consumed? identifying the Mushroom and sharing the information would prevent future incidents. I am interested in studying it.
My heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their loved ones due to mushroom poisoning. Really sad!
Never expected to read a news like this from a paradise of mushrooms.
Hailing from Tamil Nadu, my childhood days were spent in Meghalaya. Truly a paradise for mushrooms, we used to collect a variety of them from the jungles and feast on them. We never heard of anything like mushroom poisoning back then. The aroma and taste of wild mushrooms are out of this world.
55 years have passed since and I have been longing to visit this paradise and relive those days by scouring through those jungles for mushrooms. After reading this news, a sense of fear and caution are restricting me.