Dibrugarh: In light of previous incidents of poisoning caused by consumption of various wild mushrooms found in forests and bushes during the monsoon season, the Dibrugarh district health department has urged the public to refrain from eating wild mushrooms.Mushrooms found along roadsides and in jungles during the rainy season contain various harmful toxic substances, the consumption of which can even lead to death. Consuming these poisonous mushrooms results in symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, headache and fever.“We urge any individual or family who suspects they have ingested wild mushrooms to report to the nearest health facility immediately. One must not wait for the onset of symptoms, as delay can prove fatal,” a district health official stated.Furthermore, the district health department has urged the public not to be misled by certain prevalent misconceptions regarding poisonous mushrooms — such as the beliefs that all poisonous mushrooms are bright and shiny, that wild mushrooms are safe to eat if cooked after being kept in a refrigerator, dried in the sun, or stored in ice, or that poisonous mushrooms have a very pungent smell and taste.“There is a dangerous misconception that poisonous mushrooms always possess a pungent smell or vibrant colours. In reality, some of the most toxic varieties look and taste remarkably similar to common edible mushrooms,” the official added.It is noteworthy that the Dibrugarh district health department has taken various measures to create awareness regarding the dangers of consuming these wild mushrooms. Health workers are continuously informing the public about the hazardous consequences of consuming wild mushrooms through awareness meetings. Specific steps have been taken to sensitize people in tea garden areas through microphone announcements. Similarly, various awareness messages are being sent via social media to inform the public to abstain from consuming wild mushrooms.
