Mushroom Poisoning. Status as of October 17, 2012.

Since 2010, the InVS has conducted annual surveillance of mushroom poisoning based on cases recorded by the Poison Control and Toxicovigilance Centers (CAPTV) and the OSCOUR® network (a coordinated surveillance network for emergency department visits, covering approximately 60% of hospital emergency departments). Mushroom growth is linked to weather conditions (precipitation, relative humidity, temperature). Health surveillance is seasonal and runs from July 1 to December 31 of each year.In 2011, 1,458 cases of poisoning were recorded by the CAPTVs, and 550 emergency department visits for mushroom poisoning were recorded. This year, in 2012, 717 cases of mushroom poisoning were recorded by the CAPTVs between July 1 and October 21. An upward trend in cases reported by CAPTVs (more than 50 cases per week) has been observed since Week 39 (September 24–30), when 65 cases were reported. In Week 40 (October 1–7), 54 cases were reported by CAPTVs. A peak has been observed since week 41, during which 212 cases of mushroom poisoning were reported to CAPTVs between October 8 and 14, and 220 cases between October 15 and 21. Two deaths were recorded in the Rhône-Alpes region. Since the start of seasonal surveillance (July 1, 2012), 6 (0.8%) cases have been reported in Limousin. The InVS is continuing its weekly national surveillance of mushroom poisoning until the end of the 2012 season.