The reports of "Mutation were the invention of yellow jounalism"
Here is the straight poop from ProMed:
MUSHROOM POISONING, FATAL - MEXICO (CHIAPAS)
********************************************
A ProMED-mail posting
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail, a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>
Date: 5 Aug 2006
From: Maria Compte <***@dooleyintermed.org>
Source: Mexican Institute of Public Health; Chiapas Health
Secretariat; EFE
News Agency, and online editions of El Sol de Mexico, TabascoHoy.com
[translated, edited]
As of Fri 4 Aug 2006, 9 people from 2 related native families from the
Tzotzil ethnic group died after a family gathering where they ate
poisonous
mushrooms of the _Amanita virosa_ and/or _Amanita verna_ [either of
these
may be commonly known as death cap or destroying angel] species.
A 10th person, an 8 year old boy, remains in hospital in a serious
condition in the Tuxla Gutierrez Pediatric Hospital.
The deceased included a 5 year old girl, her mother and father; the
brother
and sister-in-law of the father with their 3 year old daughter and
their
older children aged 4, 10, and 12 years. The 8 year old boy that
remains
hospitalized is a member of to the first family. Both families were
residents from the community of Cototle, municipality of Tenejapa, in
the
State of Chiapas.
A relative of the deceased said that they had bought the mushrooms in
the
local market, and eaten them last Saturday (30 Jul 2006). On Sunday
some of
the children and adults started with symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea,
high
fever, nose bleeding, convulsions, and unresponsiveness. On Monday
morning
they presented to the local hospital San Cristobal de las Casas where
some
of them were admitted. The second couple with their 3 year old
daughter
refused admission to the hospital and returned to their community,
where
they later died.
The local and regional health authorities have began a public health
alert
and social promotion campaign, centered in the Altos de Chiapas area,
to
educate the public and request they abstain from collecting, selling,
and
eating wild mushrooms. This is especially important since some toxic
species, including _Amanita virosa_, resemble edible varieties known
locally as "yuyo", and used in traditional dishes to complement the
local
diet due to its high protein content.
This is the rainy season in the area with an increase in the
consumption of
wild mushrooms by the native peoples of the region. In July 2005 at
least
16 people suffered intoxication and 8 died from the Zapatista
communities
of Polho, Chenalho, San Andres Larrainzar, and San Juan Chamula, all
in the
Altos de Chiapas area. The Mexican authorities then prohibited the
consumption of wild mushrooms and seized over 100 kilograms of
mushrooms
for sale in markets and public places.
_Amanita virosa_ is a 5-10 cm white-capped mushroom; it grows in humid
forests of deciduous or coniferous trees in the summer and fall. Its
most
potent toxins include faloidine and amatoxines. The toxic symptoms
after
ingestion are dose-dependent and begin after a latency of 6-30 hours.
They
include an acute phase with profuse choleriform diarrhea, vomiting,
dehydration, and metabolic acidosis. After this acute stage, around
the 3rd
day, the patient develops hepatotoxic features due to acute and
massive
hepatic necrosis, including icterus, hypoglycemia, bleeding, hepatic
encephalopathy, convulsions, coma, and death.
(To see an image of _Amanita virosa_ (also called "Destroying Angel"
in the
US): <http://plantpath.osu.edu/faculty/ellett/avirosa.html>)
--
Maria Emilia Compte, MD, MPH&TM
Vice President for Programs
Intermed International
420 Lexington Avenue, Room 2331
New York, NY 10170
USA
<***@dooleyintermed.org>
<http://www.dooleyintermed.org>
[Amanitin poisoning is likely to be a very bad experience. The toxin
is
contained in all parts of the mushroom. With the exception of a few
squirrels or rabbits, this mushroom is not consumed by wildlife, yet
it
looks like the edible varieties.
The toxin contains cyclic amines, which is probably why the
intoxication is
diagnosed late, treatment is delayed, and death ensues. The patient
may be
in severe distress for as long as 10 days. The hepatic and renal
systems
are most severely affected. As these systems shut down, the
circulatory and
cardiac systems are affected, and the body as a whole shuts down and
the
patient dies. Unfortunately, there is no recognized antidote. Early
supportive care may be beneficial, but it must occur early in the
intoxication to prevent the toxin from being fatal. - Mod.TG]
[see also:
2005
---
Mushroom poisoning, fatal - Russia (Voronezh) 20050717.2051
Food poisoning, fatal, mushrooms - Ukraine (Lugansk) 20050713.1987
Mushroom poisoning - Russia 20050706.1916
Mushroom poisoning, fatal - Kyrgyzstan (Bishkek, Osh) 20050601.1525
2004
---
Mushroom poisoning - Japan (04) 20041124.3149
Mushroom poisoning - Japan (03) 20041108.3022
Mushroom poisoning - Japan (02) 20041105.2996
Mushroom poisoning - Japan 20041104.2988
2000
---
Mushroom poisoning - Russia (Volgograd, Voronezh) 20000715.1172]
................tg/pg/sh
*##########################################################*
************************************************************
ProMED-mail makes every effort to verify the reports that
are posted, but the accuracy and completeness of the
information, and of any statements or opinions based
thereon, are not guaranteed. The reader assumes all risks in
using information posted or archived by ProMED-mail. ISID
and its associated service providers shall not be held
responsible for errors or omissions or held liable for any
damages incurred as a result of use or reliance upon posted
or archived material.
************************************************************
Become a ProMED-mail Premium Subscriber at
<http://www.isid.org/ProMEDMail_Premium.shtml>
************************************************************
Visit ProMED-mail's web site at <http://www.promedmail.org>.
Send all items for posting to: ***@promedmail.org
(NOT to an individual moderator). If you do not give your
full name and affiliation, it may not be posted. Send
commands to subscribe/unsubscribe, get archives, help,
etc. to: ***@promedmail.org. For assistance from a
human being send mail to: owner-***@promedmail.org.
############################################################
############################################################
On Fri, 04 Aug 2006 20:19:04 -0400, Frederick Burroughs
Post by Frederick Burroughs2 more die from poisonous mushrooms
A 7-year-old boy and his father died Friday, bringing to 10 the number
of people killed after eating poisonous mushrooms in Mexico's
southernmost Chiapas state.
All 10, from the same Indian family in the community of Tenejapa, had
eaten a soup made with wild mushrooms gathered deep in the mountains of
Chiapas. Eight other relatives died earlier in the week. An 11th family
member, a 69-year-old man, did not eat the soup and was not affected,
authorities said.
Wild mushrooms flourish during the rainy season in the forests and
jungles of Chiapas, and are a common dietary staple for many Indian
families. But recent genetic mutations have made some mushrooms,
consumed for years in Indian communities, newly poisonous, officials say.
Authorities have been inspecting open-air food markets, collecting all
mushrooms sold there to prevent further deaths.
Medical officials said the type of venom contained in the mushrooms that
the family ingested had immediate and severe effects on the liver,
making it difficult for doctors to help them.
Copyright © 2006 The Associated Press