Kathmandu, July 23: A 36-year-old woman from Tulsipur, Dang, has died after consuming poisonous wild mushrooms, as health authorities renewed warnings against eating mushrooms collected from forests during the monsoon season.
The deceased, Deepa Pun, fell ill after eating wild mushrooms and was initially treated at Ghorahi Hospital. She was later referred to the Teaching Hospital in Kohalpur but died on the way after her condition deteriorated. Her death is the latest in a series of fatal wild mushroom poisoning incidents reported across Nepal this year.
Last month, seven members of two families fell ill after eating mushrooms collected from the forest. Two recovered after receiving treatment at home, while five others required hospitalisation.
In Chitwan, one woman died and two other people became ill after consuming poisonous wild mushrooms last month. Earlier this year, another fatal case was reported in Palpa, where two people died after eating toxic mushrooms. Health officials say these cases likely represent only a fraction of the actual number of poisonings, as many incidents in remote areas go unreported and never reach hospitals or police records.
Despite repeated fatalities, people in many rural communities continue to collect and consume wild mushrooms from nearby forests. On Monday, the Ministry of Health and Population, in coordination with the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control, again urged the public not to consume wild mushrooms, particularly during the rainy season when they grow abundantly.
In a public notice, the ministry warned that poisonous mushrooms can cause severe poisoning, serious illness and death. Dr. Radhika Thapaliya, Director of the National Health Education, Information and Communication Centre, said many people mistakenly believe wild mushrooms are safe to eat.
She warned that consuming poisonous mushrooms can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, severe abdominal pain, liver and kidney failure, and in many cases, death. Dr. Thapaliya also stressed that cooking does not destroy the toxins found in poisonous mushrooms and urged people never to consume mushrooms collected from the wild.
As it is difficult for the general public to distinguish edible mushrooms from poisonous ones, the ministry has advised people to consume only commercially cultivated or certified mushrooms purchased from reliable sources. The ministry has also urged anyone who develops unusual symptoms after eating mushrooms to seek immediate medical attention at the nearest health facility.
Although Nepal lacks a comprehensive national database on mushroom poisoning, reports from across the country indicate that between 30 and 40 people die each rainy season after consuming poisonous wild mushrooms. In recent years, multiple fatal incidents involving entire families have been reported from districts including Palpa, Rolpa, Achham, Chitwan and Tanahun. #nepal #mushroom
