ACT Health has issued a warning on death cap mushrooms after finding a new undisclosed site in Canberra.
The mushrooms have been removed.
"Death caps can grow anywhere at any time," a spokesperson said.
"Death caps can grow anywhere across the ACT and the safest option is to not pick or eat wild mushrooms from any location [in any season]."
Three people ended up in Canberra hospitals after eating poisonous mushrooms in one week in November this year.
At the time, Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said ACT Health was not able to confirm whether they had ingested death caps.
ACT Health said they were not aware of anyone presenting to a Canberra emergency having eaten one of the deadly mushrooms recently.
Death cap mushrooms usually grow around autumn, but wet and cool weather has made them more likely to grow this summer.
⚠️ Public Health Alert - Death cap mushrooms growing in Canberra ❗ Do not pick or eat any wild mushrooms. Eating even a small amount of a death cap mushroom can kill you. Report sightings to Access Canberra on 13 22 81. ℹ More info https://t.co/M0z23ixKJXpic.twitter.com/ntY30gjIyk
— ACT Health (@ACTHealth) December 6, 2021
Death caps are known to grow in the territory, and ACT Health says while they often grow near oak trees they can be found anywhere.
They can be mistaken for edible mushrooms.
"All parts of the mushroom are poisonous and cooking them does not make them safe to eat," the spokesperson said.
"People should not touch wild mushrooms with bare hands and should keep children and animals away from them."
Anyone who thinks they may have eaten a death cap mushroom should rush to a hospital emergency department and take any remaining mushroom to the hospital with them.
Symptoms of poisoning generally occur 6 to 24 hours or more after eating mushrooms, and include pains, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
The chances of survival increase if treatment is started early.
