Three people died and 35 were sickened by toxic mushrooms in California, the worst outbreak in state history.

Three fatalities and 35 illnesses have resulted from a deadly mushroom outbreak in California, the largest in the state's history. Cases were reported from November 18 to January 4 in several counties. Toxic death cap mushrooms, such as the Western destroying angel, which resemble edible species, proliferated due to heavy rains and mild weather. Severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain are among the symptoms that manifest six to twenty-four hours after ingestion; liver and kidney damage frequently follows. Because even skilled foragers can misidentify wild mushrooms, health officials advise against foraging or purchasing them from unregulated sources. The typical yearly average of fewer than five cases is greatly exceeded by the outbreak.