Health officials warn about consuming dangerous mushrooms

By Admin 03 Jul 2023

DMG Newsroom
3 July 2023, Sittwe

Health officials have warned local people in Arakan State to exercise caution in consuming mushrooms after some cases of food poisoning have been reported in the state.

Three family members in Alel Chaung Village, Ponnagyun Township, vomited and lost consciousness after eating a mushroom that they had found growing under a mango tree. They needed to receive medical treatment at Ponnagyun Township Hospital, according to local villagers.

Four family members in Kyaukseik Village, in the same township, also needed to receive medical treatment after eating mushrooms picked from beneath a mango tree.

“They vomited and had diarrhoea after eating it. So, I gave them injections. They recovered then,” said a health worker from Kyaukseik Village.

Food poisoning from mushrooms can be fatal if not treated in time, said assistant director Dr. Zaw Zaw Aung of the Arakan State Public Health Department. 

“Mushrooms must be carefully chosen, and cooked properly. If symptoms develop after consuming mushrooms, people should seek medical attention immediately,” he said.

The Health Ministry on June 16 issued a list of characteristics of mushrooms that can be dangerous and even fatal if consumed.